| Meribah Cottage, Mofflyn |
| Years of Operation | From 1972 to around 1986 |
| Role Of Facility | Residential care for 6 school age boys and girls in a home-like setting. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Mofflyn |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Uniting Church” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions” |
| Address(es) | St James |
| Aliases | Another spelling in Departmental reports is “Merribah”. |
| Brief History | 5 children in residence at June 30, 1975 (2 Wards and 3 private admissions). At this time, Meribah provided generally longer term care for boys and girls aged 5-17 years, but did take children for shorter periods if necessary. Sibling groups were accommodated. Meribah had a garden, play area, barbeque, one pet, and bikes for the children. Children were encouraged to build their own cubby. There were 4 bedrooms – 1 single, and 3 doubles; a lounge room; 2 bathrooms and 2 toilets for the children; 1 staff bedrooms; and a verandah; a TV, radio or radiogram, library, magazines, books and toys were available. Homework was completed after tea and children generally took their lunch to school except one day per week when they could buy their lunch; children either walked to school or caught the bus. The average length of stay was 1.26 years. Holiday placements were actively sought for the children. Recreational activities included sporting clubs and going to the YMCA, attending church, and other activities arranged by cottage parents. (Department of Child Welfare Submission to the Committee of Enquiry into Residential Child Care, July 1976).
The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes “Merribah” 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.”) that was operated by an agency other than the Department.
Mofflyn has its own entry in Signposts, and this should be consulted as it gives more information about the approach taken. |
| Records | Departmental case records for young people placed in Mofflyn programs by the Department may reside with the Department of Communities.
UnitingCare West may hold information or records.
It is unknown whether any other records are still in existence. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | UnitingCare West
Central Office
16 Sunbury Road
VICTORIA PARK WA 6100
Postal Address:
GPO Box B74
PERTH WA 6838
Telephone: 1300 663 298 (08) 9355 9116
Facsimile: 1300 663 528
Email: admin@unitingcarewest.org.au
www.unitingcarewest.org.au
Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au |
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