| Werribee Cottage, Mofflyn |
| Years of Operation | 1962 - 1985 |
| Role Of Facility | Residential care for girls of high school age in a detached house setting on the Mofflyn campus. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Methodist Church / Uniting Church of Australia / Uniting Church Child and Family Care Services / 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) | 151 Sussex Street, Victoria Park. |
| Brief History | “Caregivers in group homes comprise one couple who live-in, ideally caring for up to eight children. Generally, the husband continues in his existing employment, with the wife paid either an honorarium or wage. Group homes operate on a model where substitute care is provided until changes in the circumstances of the child’s original caregivers permit their return home. In some instances a child may move on to other carers on a more permanent basis (as in adoption) or with older youth to semi-independent accommodation. Group care services provided through the non-government sector fall under the mandate of the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care, and provide cottage care via salaried child care worker staff. The contemporary trend towards community based group care services for children is resulting in the closure of institutionalized settings and campus-based residential facilities.” (Submission of the Department for Community Services to the Residential Planning Review Taskforce, March 31st 1987).
In 1969, four female Wards were in residence at Werribee.
Part of the Mofflyn campus, the WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes Werribee Girls’ Cottage as a ‘clustered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds 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. For girls after secondary school age.
9 girls were in residence at June 30, 1975. At this time, Werribee provided short term care for girls aged 12-15 years. The cottage had a garden, play area, trampoline, access to an oval, tennis court, bikes and a range of sporting equipment. There were 3 bedrooms which would sleep three or more girls per room; a study; 2 bathrooms and 2 toilets; and a storeroom; a pool or table tennis table; a TV, piano, and radio or radiogram were available. Girls walked to school. The average length of stay was 9 months. Holiday placements were actively sought for the children. Recreational activities included camping trips. The brick cottage was 25 years old in 1975. (Department of Child Welfare Submission to the Committee of Enquiry into Residential Child Care, July 1976).
Mofflyn has its own entry in Signposts, and this should also be consulted as it gives more information about the campus. |
| Records | Case records for young people placed by the Department may reside with the Department of Communities.
Some files and admission registers 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 | 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
Web: 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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