| Chesterfield House & Rockingham Youth External Accommodation Project |
| Years of Operation | 1983 - ongoing |
| Role Of Facility | Described in 1983 as providing accommodation, support, counselling and welfare assistance to young people 13 - 18 years affected by crisis. Length of stay dependent upon individual need. Capacity 10.
Described in 1989 as providing a 24 hour service to males and females aged 14-19 years in crisis, operating from small-scale premises on the outskirts of Rockingham.
Described in 1995 as providing emergency accommodation and support for up to 6 young people.
Described in 2001 as providing crisis and external youth accommodation support services in the Rockingham / Kwinana area for young people between the ages of 15 and 20 years. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessor to the current Department for Child Protection / Shire of Rockingham / Youth Care Trust / Anglicare / Anglican Health and Welfare Services Inc. |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Anglican Church” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions” |
| Address(es) | 62 Fifty Road, Baldivis.
Chesterfield Road, East Rockingham (1987 address). |
| Aliases | Rockingham Child and Youth Care, Chesterfield House, RYEAP |
| Brief History | Funding for this service was originally provided through the Youth Supported Accommodation Program, which was a sub-program of the Commonwealth/State funded Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP). From 2009, funding continues to be provided through the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA). [For notes on this program see the section on NAHA/SAAP at the beginning of Signposts].
In the 1982 Annual Report, the newly-formed Rockingham Division reported its involvement in “projects aimed at the establishment of accommodation for homeless youth”.
“The [Rockingham] Division was instrumental in assisting with the establishment of Chesterfield House, a homeless youth shelter, in conjunction with the Shire of Rockingham and Youth Care Trust.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1983).
“Chesterfield House is staffed by a Social Worker, a caretaker and voluntary workers. A welfare officer was recently appointed under the Community Employment Programme. This youth shelter has proven to be a valuable resource for local youth as well as those [from] other areas. The shelter’s statistics indicate 60% of referrals come from Government agencies.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1984).
Subsequently administered by Rockingham Youth Housing.
In 1995, Rockingham Youth and Child Care’s Funding Agreement with the Department outlined the purpose of the funded services, the service objectives and performance indicators:
The purpose of the service was “to provide immediate access to short term accommodation and support to homeless young people to identify their own problems, make decisions and work towards personal goals.”
Service Objectives:
“Young people have immediate access to accommodation in a safe and secure environment.
Young people requesting support and information have their needs met.
Actively pursue family reconciliation.
Establish and maintain networks with relevant government and non-government agencies/departments.
Young people have access to externally supported accommodation.
Young people will have a case plan developed with them to enable them to move towards independent living.
The Department for Community Development will be notified of any young person under sixteen in need of accommodation support.” (Funding Agreement between Rockingham Y&CCT and Family and Children’s Services 1995, as reported in the Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, “Terms of Reference”, Family and Children’s Services, 1995).
Administered by Anglicare since 1997 as a crisis residential facility for adolescents.
In 2000, Anglicare’s funding agreement with the Department described the service as being located in the Rockingham area and providing safe and supported accommodation to youth who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. The service provided six beds for crisis accommodation and four medium term beds. The service provided support to access and maintain external accommodation. (Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development). |
| Records | Departmental case records for those young people referred by the Department may reside with the Department of Communities.
It is unknown whether any other records are still in existence.
Anglicare may hold information or records. |
| 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) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
Anglicare Records:
Fostering Futures Manager, Anglicare WA
GPO Box C138, Perth WA 6839
Telephone: (08) 9325 7033
Email: fosteringfuturesstaff@anglicarewa.org.au
Web: anglicarewa.org.au |
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