| Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc |
| Years of Operation | 1903 - ongoing |
| Role Of Facility | To provide residential care for children in a family-style environment, with cottage parents and special facilities designed for different year levels. The facility accommodated private admissions as well as Wards of the state.
In 1985, children who were being admitted to Parkerville came for two main reasons: 1) short term placement, requiring assessment and future planning; 2) long term placement, requiring preparation for independent living.
In 1986, the suite of services offered by Parkerville were described as “an intensive case-work model of service for children, youth and families experiencing problems of neglect, rejection, emotional damage, physical and or sexual abuse.” (Report on the Activities of the Consultative Committee in 1985/86, Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care October 1986).
By 1990, Parkerville was providing a range of services, in partnership with the Department and with the children’s families, to serve the child’s total needs – “spiritual, emotional, social, education and physical”. A very targeted program, the Barooga Project, was also underway to assist 12-15 year olds acquire independent living skills. (Report on the Activities of the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care in 1989/90, February 1991).
1994 Out of Home Care funded services included:
• Group care accommodation program for 0-18 year olds with cottage parents (four cottages at Parkerville and one in White Gum Valley, see entry).
• Belmont Programme (12-17 year olds for up to one year), see entry.
• Jenny House (15-19 year olds), see entry.
Other services included:
• School to work project
• Preventing children entering out of home care (eg. Maintaining children at home)
(Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, “Terms of Reference”, Family and Children’s Services, 1995). |
| Sponsoring Agency | Although the facility was instituted by Anglican sisters, it was not under the control of the Anglican church in early days, but the links to the Anglican Church were strong and enduring.
In 1976, Departmental administrative files show the Anglican Health and Welfare Services received copies of Departmental correspondence about Parkerville.
In 1982, Departmental administrative files show the Administrative Body for Parkerville as the Sisters of the Church.
Parkerville Children’s Home Incorporated is the governing body of the agency. (PCH has been incorporated since 1925). |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Parkerville Children’s Home” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions”. |
| Address(es) | Beacon Road, Parkerville |
| Aliases | Parkerville Waifs’ Home
Parkerville Children's Home |
| Brief History | The facility was the brainchild of Sister Kate Clutterbuck who, with a small group of Anglican Sisters, started Parkerville Waifs’ Home in 1909.
In 2000, Ashley McDonald from Murdoch University provided an article that gives some insight into the establishment of Sister Kate’s which was her subsequent legacy to this State [see entry, Manguri, in this document]. McDonald’s article gives some insight into Sister Kate’s retirement’ from Parkerville, which is also mentioned in the yearly summary of events at Parkerville provided in this section. A full reference to McDonald’s article is provided at the end of these excerpts:
“Sister Kate belonged to a sisterhood called ‘The Community of the Sisters of the Church’ (CSC), or the ‘Kilburn Sisterhood’. This order of Anglican nuns were formed in 1870 and were specifically devoted to the education and care of children. The CSC aimed to properly raise children in all facets like a natural parent….
The Sisterhood soon sent some members to Western Australia to take up work there. After some initial reluctance from Bishop Parry, Sister Kate eventually established a children's home. The CSC purchased property in the Darling Ranges which became the venue for the Parkerville Children’s Home. The aim of Parkerville was to care for a child’s physical well being and to raise them into proper citizens. The paramount concern of the CSC was that each child should be brought up in a loving and familial environment. The CSC endeavoured to give their children everything which other children received, such as a proper education and loving family.
A very important method, introduced by Sister Kate, to achieve this familial atmosphere was the Cottage Home system. Each cottage was meant to function as a little family in its own right and was staffed with a cottage mother and father. An unusual feature for the time was the fact that a variety of children lived in each cottage. This, presumably, was part of the CSC’s aim to imitate family life and have children of varying ages and sexes so as to mimic siblings...
When Sister Kate reached the age of 70 Archbishop Le Fanu resolved that she should retire however she was not willing to leave her position at Parkerville. It has been argued that Sister Kate's reluctance was due to her desire that Parkerville should remain under the CSC’s control and not come under the Archbishop's jurisdiction.
Sister Kate’s refusal to accede to these requests should be regarded as an act of insubordination to a person in high authority. She once commented that she acknowledged only two authorities in this world, they being God and the children she cared for. Archbishop Le Fanu therefore was not part of her realm of authority.
As history shows us however, Sister Kate was forcibly retired from Parkerville in 1933.”
McDonald, Ashley. (2000) “Are we Family? And if so can I Still Sue You?” Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law Vol.7 No.1
In its service agreement with the Department in 1998 Parkerville provided 26 medium-long term and 4 long term placements for children utilising cottage and foster care. The location of the placements were at Parkerville campus and/or locations in the Perth metropolitan area. (Service Agreement with the Department for Family and Children’s Services).
In 2003 Parkerville was providing up to 30 placements for children and young people aged 6 to 15 years. Care was provided in a family type setting with full time carers. Parkerville also provided a reunification service for up to six families. (Service Agreement with the Department for Child Protection).
The three year Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development which commenced on 1 April 2006 enables Parkerville Children and Youth Care to provide placements for 30 children and young people in the CEO's care aged six to 15 years. Younger children may be accepted where they are part of a sibling group.
The placements comprise:
• 25 cottage and 5 community foster care placements in the first year of the service agreement
• 20 cottage and 10 community foster care placements in the second year of the service agreement
• 15 cottage and 15 community foster care placements in the third year of the service agreement.
The number of community foster care placements is reliant on the recruitment assessment and registration of carers.
Cottage care is provided in a family type setting with full time carers. Children and young people in the same cottage may be from more than one family. There is a maximum of six children per cottage.
The transfer of a child between cottage care and community foster care is in their best interests and in accordance with the care plan.
Parkerville provides a reunification service for up to six families. This service is also available to young people placed in Out-of-Home Care Youth (Belmont) and their families. The Department and Parkerville jointly assess which families will be provided a reunification service by Parkerville and the goal of reunification is determined by the care plan. In some cases reunification services could commence prior to entering care.
The three year ServiceAgreement with the Department for Community Development which commenced on 1 April 2006 enables Parkersville Children and Youth Care to provide group placements at Belmont Cottage for up to six young people in the CEO’s care aged 14 to 17 years. The funding for the service is provided under the joint Commonwealth / State Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.
The reunification service provided through Parkerville Out-of-Home Care Children is avialable to young people placed in Out-of-Home Care Youth (Belmont). The Department and Parkerville jointly assess which young people and their families will be provided a reunification service and the goal of reunification is determined by the care plan. In some cases reunification services could commence prior to the young person entering the placement. |
| Records | Admission/discharge registers from approximately 1903.
Case files from the early 1970’s.
Parkerville also has some photographs.
Departmental files are also likely to exist. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Parkerville Children and Youth Care (Inc)
Beacon Road, Parkerville WA 6081
Telephone: (08) 9295 4400
Facsimile: (08) 9295 4099
Email: admin@parkerville.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 |
| back |