The Child Welfare Advisory Council began meeting in 1965. It provided advice to the Minister about issues related to children who were state wards or supervised in other ways by the Social Welfare Department and its successors. The Council was abolished in about 1998. The Child Welfare Advisory Council was established under section 5 of…
Malmesbury Girls’ Home, run by the government, opened in 1950. Initially it provided cottage accommodation for wards of state. In 1960, the Social Services Department began using it for girls considered to need close supervision because of behavioural problems. Malmesbury became a receiving home in 1962. Malmesbury Girls’ Home took up to 12 children. When…
Omaru Hostel opened in Launceston in 1968. It provided accommodation for about three older boys who had started paid work. The Hostel closed in the mid 1970s. Omaru Hostel was in the same building as the former Omaru Receiving Home. A married couple ran Omaru Hostel in exchange for free accommodation. The boys paid them…
Devonfield Hostel, run by the Retarded Children’s Welfare Association, opened in Devonport in 1965. It was a combined Hostel and school for children with intellectual disabilities. In 2013, Devonfield continues to provide training but is no longer residential. The Social Welfare Department placed wards of state with intellectual disabilities at Devonfield. Margaret Reynolds, the former…
Hillcrest Children’s Home, run by the Christian Brethren, opened in West Hobart in 1966. It was an approved children’s Home that took wards of state and children under the Residential Domestic Assistance Scheme. It closed in 1984. The Chief Secretary, Brian Miller, officially opened Hillcrest Children’s Home on 1 April 1967 before a crowd of…
The Residential Child Care Association of Tasmania was formed for the Managers of approved children’s homes. Section 10 of the 1960 Child Welfare Act provided for the approval of children’s Homes run by voluntary organisations.
The Social Policy Planning Unit, located within the Department of Social Welfare and its successors, was established in 1975. It conducted research into policy change and made recommendations to the Director of the Department. The Unit closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The Social Policy Planning Unit employed a Unit Supervisor, a clerical…
Kanangra Hostel opened in Mount Stuart in 1975. It was in the same building as the former Kanangra Receiving Home. Kanangra provided accommodation in Hobart to six older boys who had paid employment. It closed around 1985. Kanangra Hostel was in the same building as the former Kanangra Receiving Home. The Hostel was run by…
The New Town Infirmary replaced the New Town Charitable Institution in 1912. Its residents included children detained by the government for various reasons. In 1934, the New Town Infirmary became the New Town Rest Home. The main purpose of the New Town Infirmary was to house people who were aged and infirm. However, as the…
Kennerley Children’s Home, in Glenorchy, replaced Kennerley Boys’ Home in 1969. It was run by a volunteer board. The Home provided cottage accommodation to small groups of children and young people. In 2018, it is still operating. Kennerley Boys’ Home had been set up in 1869 by a Deed of Gift from Alfred Kennerley. The…
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