Signposts
Maria Goretti Home
Years of OperationThe only known report of the Maria Goretti Home was in 1969
Role Of FacilityThe Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website ( www.aiatsis.gov.au ) shows the governing agency of the Maria Goretti Home as the Roman Catholic Church but gives no other information.
While this facility was licensed to care for children under 5 years of age, no children were recorded by the Department as being admitted, and no information has been discovered about it. It is possible that the facility may not ever have operated, but that a license was obtained in the planning stages for a service that never eventuated. Annual Reports of the Child Welfare Department in 1969 and 1970 record that the Maria Goretti Home was licensed to care for 12 children under 6 years of age.
It is also possible that this was a planned service additional to other services offered through Catherine House [see entry].
Sponsoring AgencyGiven its location, the most reasonably link could probably be made through the Catholic Diocese of Broome
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency
See the entry “Catholic Diocese of Broome” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions”
Address(es)Broome
RecordsIt is unknown whether any records for the Maria Goretti Home exist, but it may be worthwhile enquiring through the archival material that is held by the Catholic Diocese of Broome.
AccessWhile access to any records that may exist will be restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Contact DetailsFor information about personal records for people who may have been placed by the Department in this or other facilities in the Kimberley:

Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6217 6888
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au

For information about church related documents and correspondence:
The Archivist, Diocesan Office,
PO Box 76, Broome WA 6725
Telephone: (08) 9192 1060
Facsimilie: (08) 9192 2136
Email: info@broomediocese.org
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