| Presbyterian Church |
| Role Of Facility | Wilson and Robinson outlined the administration and governance structures of the Presbyterian Church in hostel management as practiced in 1971:
“The Presbyterian Church is] interested in Aboriginal welfare as an aspect only of general social problems within the community-at-large….The Presbyterian Church originally became involved in Aboriginal hostel work when its general child care institutions were under threat of closure through changing Child Welfare Department policy. According to the Church, the Child Welfare Department was beginning to place more emphasis on foster home placement and did not encourage the use of church-administered homes to the same extent. To fill this gap in potential areas of activity, a sub-committee was formed to investigate and advise on future projects. Several suggestions eventuated from its enquiries, including the idea of managing a hostel for ‘coloured youth’. This was considered towards the end of 1967. A decision was finally made to concentrate on the proposal to manage Aboriginal hostels. The intention was expressed at the Annual Session of the General Assembly on May 17th 1968, where it was decided
‘…to establish a hostel for native children and youths. There is an urgent need for such accommodation to enable selected bursar children from country areas to come to the city for secondary and technical education, and likewise for apprentices and working youth. Here is an avenue of service where the church may show the love of Christ for these young people by providing for them a home environment and the opportunity for development to useful and meaningful citizenship. (Report of the Annual Session of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 1968, at p.109).’….
Rangevue Hostel is managed by the Presbyterian Board of Social Services, which is also responsible for Sister Kate’s Children’s Home [see entry]. Rangevue also has a loosely-structured hostel Committee which acts as a link between the Board and local hostel management. The Board is, in turn, responsible to the General Assembly of Presbyterian Services in Western Australia.
Although the Presbyterians also control other missions and welfare services in Australia, the links between them and Rangevue are not as marked…” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.
Wilson and Robinson also reflected on the role of religious institutions being involved in hostel management: “it must be stressed that subtle theologically inspired policy differences can and will lead to varying conditions in each hostel. Whereas one controlling authority feels that it ‘…must cut the suit according to the cloth’, another will ‘…rather work at a loss than have the wrong girl going through.’ Each controlling authority sees itself as being inevitably involved with aspects of socialisation within the hostel setting. The point of agreement is that some form of religious training is required, and that hostel residents must be enouraged towards christianity. Some go further and stress that christianity involves conversion to the beliefs of the denomination responsible for control.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey. |
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” |
| Records | While the Department of Native Welfare placed some children in Presbyterian facilities, some placements may have been arranged privately.
The Department for Child Protection should also be contacted for Department of Native Welfare records as they may be able to locate them or refer enquirers to other tracing services.
In relation to non-Indigenous placements, Departmental case records for young people placed in Presbyterian programs by the Child Welfare Department may reside with the Department of Communities.
Records for young people who were resident in Presbyterian facilities may be held by Mofflyn. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Synod of Western Australia
UCA Archives Research Centre
1st Floor 10 Pier Street, Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9221 6911
Facsimile: (08) 9221 6863
Email: archiveswa@amnet.net.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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