| South Hedland Group Home |
| Years of Operation | Operating from 1979, the facility remains open in 2010 as a Parent Support Centre |
| Role Of Facility | Short term residential child care in a family setting. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection |
| Address(es) | 3 Jibson Close, South Hedland |
| Brief History | “A Departmental Group Home for Children in need of emergency residential care has been constructed in South Hedland and will open early in the coming year. This facility will accommodate up to eight children on a short term basis and has been designed to duplicate, as nearly as possible, a normal family situation. The Group Home should reduce the need to send children in need of Care and Protection to Perth because of lack of suitable local facilities. Until this home is established the only other residential care facility for young children in the Pilbara is Yaandina Babies and Children's Centre in Roebourne[see separate entry in Signposts for Yaandina]. Placement of other than local children at Yaandina makes it difficult for parents to maintain regular contact with their children because of the distance they have to travel to see them.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1978).
Group Homes could be developed relatively inexpensively, so they were able to be located within country towns close to the child’s home of origin, which was seen to be particularly advantageous. “The involvement and access to parents by these placements is often a major step in the rehabilitation of a family group.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1979). For notes on a general history of these facilities, see the section on Group Homes at the beginning of Signposts.
The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes the South Hedland Group Home as a ‘scattered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds do not adjoin those of another family group home, or other residential child care establishment, operated by the same enterprise.”) operated by the Department.
“The South Hedland Group Home caters for the needs of the Division, and its operation is a credit to the Group Home Parents. This facility is consequently an extremely valued one, particularly as alternative care resources in the North West are limited.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1984). |
| Records | Case records for young people placed by the Department may reside with the Department for Child Protection.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | 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 |
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