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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

Related Organisations

  • Freedom of Information, Department for Child Protection WA

    Freedom of Information encourages people to search for their records. However, they do ask people to be aware that files 'can be limited in the amount and type of information they hold. This is because the information which was recorded depended on the extent of contact with the person or the family. Sometimes records are incomplete, have pages missing or the writing has deteriorated and is unreadable, and some files have been destroyed. The Department is making every effort to preserve the remaining records.'

  • McCall Centre (1971 - )

Publications

Online Resources

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