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Organisation Koorana (1974 - c. 1986)
- From
- 1974
- To
- c. 1986
- Categories
- Government-run, School, Support Service and Term commonly found on child welfare records
Summary
Please note that this page reproduces the original language used in the historical sources drawn upon to compile this entry. This language includes offensive and derogatory terms which are today considered unacceptable. We apologise for any offence caused by such language.
Koorana was a departmentally sponsored "non-residential 'open' day attendance centre" for the treatment of primary school age children with severe schooling problems.
[Taken from the Western Australian guide Signposts:]
While not a residential facility, Koorana has been included in Signposts to assist those Wards and other privately-placed children who may have been residents in other of the Department's or privately-run institutions, foster homes or group homes.
Details
[Taken from the Western Australian guide Signposts:]
Annual Reports of the Department for Child Welfare state the reason why children were sent to Koorana: "The major referring problem is that the child's behaviour is such that he is unable to progress as well as his ability would allow in a normal school setting. Other relevant issues may be that his behaviour is excessively interfering with the progress of other children in his class, and that his formal learning is much below what could be expected.
Koorana does not accept children unless the local school, working with the staff of the Guidance and Special Education Branch of the Education Department has been unable to improve the child's level of functioning." "Wardship is not necessary for referral to Koorana. Admissions are determined on the need of the individual case seen in the light of alternatives available, with some slight weighting given to wardship."
Sponsoring Agency: Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Community Development
Established in February 1974, the children were transported from their place of residence to Koorana.
By 1986, when the desire to keep children as much as possible in their natural community setting was becoming increasingly important, children would only be admitted to Koorana if all other community-based options had been exhausted. By 1987, in response to a review of the McCall Centre programmes and the "rationalisation of programmes being offered by McCall Centre and Koorana", the Koorana facility was closed and McCall developed a "new
community based preventive programme."
A more detailed chronology of major events and numbers of children referred is included in Table 20.
Records: Case files may exist.
Access While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Events
- 1974 - c. 1986
- Koorana was located at Bentley. Location: Bentley
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Related Entries
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Publications
Online Resources
- Information Services, Department for Community Development, Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, http://www.signposts.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au/. Details
Sources used to compile this entry: Information Services, Department for Community Development, Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, http://www.signposts.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au/.
Prepared by: Anna Trengove and Leanne Howard
Created: 15 March 2011, Last modified: 3 February 2012
