Brookton Cottage was a group Home established by Centrecare Children’s Cottages in about 1979. It offered family-type Homes to Aboriginal babies and children aged up to 15 years, often in sibling groups. They were referred by the department responsible for child welfare, or as private admissions. Brookton Cottage closed around 1988.
Brookton Cottage was one of the group Homes established by Centrecare Children’s Cottages from 1979 to 1980, to provide culturally-appropriate accommodation and support for Aboriginal children. When the cottages first opened, children were aged 0-5 years but by 1985 children aged 0-17 years were able to be admitted.
From 1985, Centrecare staff were concerned that children living at the Brookton Cottage were facing discrimination in the town, and that there was a lack of local resources to adequately support young people who may have come to Brookton after time in detention, or after multiple other placements. The Brookton Cottage closed around 1988.
From at least 1983, possibly earlier, Brookton Cottage had Aboriginal cottage parents. When Brookton closed, the cottage parents moved to one of Centrecare Children’s Cottages in Northam.
From
1979?
To
1988?
1979? - 1988?
Brookton Cottage was located in White Street, Brookton, Western Australia (Building State unknown)