The Western Region Admission Unit (WRAU) was opened by the government in 1980 at Somerton Park. It was located on the former site of Central Region Admission Unit, the name given to Reception Cottage from 1979. In 1983 the WRAU moved to the former site of Hay Community Unit which moved to Mile End. The Admission Unit provided short term care, assessment and outreach facilities for teenaged young offenders. It closed in 1986.
The Western Region Admission Unit (WRAU) was opened by the Department for Community Welfare in 1980 at 20 Tarlton Street, Somerton Park on the former site of Central Region Admission Unit, the new name for Reception Cottage from 1979. In 1983 WRAU moved to 4 Rowells Road, Lockleys, the former site of the Hay Community Unit which was transferred to a new location at Mile End.
After the passing of the 1972 Community Welfare Act, the department was restructured and the management of residential care was decentralised. The metropolitan area was divided into regions and each region was provided with a similar group of facilities for smaller group care. In keeping with a new focus on assessment of children after they were admitted into care and developing individual programs for children, each region had an Admission Unit, a Community Unit and a Group Home. Admission Units, like the Western Region Admission Unit provided short term care, assessment and outreach facilities for young offenders. The WRAU accommodated up to eight teenagers at one time and was often used for emergency placement of children.
Western Region Admission Unit closed in 1986.
1869 - 1898 Magill Industrial School
1898 - 1949 Edwardstown Industrial School
1949 - 1958 Glandore Industrial School
1958 - 1966 Glandore Children's Home
1966 - 1973 Glandore Boys' Home
1973 - 1979 Reception Cottage, Glandore/Somerton Park
1979 - 1980 Central Region Admission Unit
1980 - 1986 Western Region Admission Unit
Sources used to compile this entry: George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; Mullighan, the Hon E.P., Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry: Allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct, presented to the South Australian Parliament by the Hon. E.P. Mullighan QC, Commisioner, Children in State Care Commission of Enquiry, Adelaide, South Australia, 2008, 564 pp, https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/107201/children-in-state-care-commission-of-inquiry-introducation.pdf; Annual Reports of the Department for Community Welfare, 1980-1986.
Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George
Created: 18 February 2011, Last modified: 24 June 2014