Hobart Women’s Shelter, run by a feminist collective, opened in about 1972. It provided temporary accommodation for women and their children escaping from domestic violence. The workers also advised homeless young women under 18 but it is not clear whether they gave them accommodation. In 2013, the Shelter is still operating. Prior to the establishment…
Annie Kenney Young Women’s Refuge opened in Hobart in 1978. It was a feminist initiative that provided emergency accommodation and support to young homeless women, many of whom were under 18. In 2009, the collective running the Refuge disbanded and the funding was returned to the Tasmanian Government for reallocation. Annie Kenney was established after…
The Boys’ Reformatory, run by volunteers, opened in the Female Factory at Cascades, South Hobart, in 1869. It provided an alternative to gaol for boys who were homeless or had broken the law. The boys were about school age. The Reformatory closed in 1876. The Boys’ Reformatory was run by volunteers under the provisions of…
Colony 47 was founded in 1973 as a community centre for young people. It ran Aspect House and continues to run Mara House. In 2014, it also offered young people support in finding accommodation and advice about careers and training. In 2024 Colony 47 rebranded as HomeBase Colony 47 was founded by a group led…
The Glenorchy Infant Orphanage opened in 1898. Originally a Mrs Fagg ran it but in 1902, she handed it over to a Miss Maum. The Orphanage had accommodation for 10 children and appears to have been for a young age range, about 1 to 10 years. It closed in about 1912. The Glenorchy Infant Orphanage…
Glenara Children’s Home replaced the Northern Tasmanian Home for Boys in 1973. It provided accommodation, some of it in cottages, for girls and boys, a number of whom were wards of state. Glenara closed in 1982. By the 1970s, policy makers were increasingly opposed to institutional care for children. In line with this thinking, the…
Glenhaven Family Care, run by the Christian Brethren, replaced Glenhaven Children’s Homes in about 1988. It is located in Ulverstone and Launceston. In 2018, Glenhaven provides emergency, respite, and long term accommodation for children and young people in north and north-west Tasmania. It also offers a support service to families. According to its website, in…
The Sunshine Association formed in 1937 to raise funds to provide holidays for children from poor or isolated homes. In 1951, the Association opened the Sunshine Home which closed in 1980. In 2012, the Association provides funds for holiday camps and sports activities as well as educational and medical expenses for children in poverty or…
Roseneath Children’s Home opened in about 1982. It was in Launceston. Roseneath was an approved children’s home that accommodated children under the Domestic Service Assistance Scheme. It closed around 1985. Roseneath Children’s Home was an approved children’s Home under the Child Welfare Act 1960. In 1984, five children lived at Roseneath Children’s Home.
The Child Welfare Division of the Social Services Department, and the Social Welfare Department that succeeded it, managed all aspects of child welfare work, including foster care and the government-run homes. In 1970, the Child Welfare Division had a Head Office in Hobart and three District Offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Following de-centralisation of…
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