Centrecare Children's Cottages

Centrecare Children’s Cottages was established in 1978 by the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth to accommodate Aboriginal children in family-type Homes in Beverley, Northam, Brookton and Glendalough. Children and young people aged 0-15 years were admitted, often in sibling groups, either referred by the department responsible for child welfare, or as private admissions. In 1992, Centrecare Children’s Cottages was re-named ‘Djooraminda’.

Centrecare Children’s Cottages was developed in 1978 by the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth’s newly-appointed head of Catholic welfare in Perth, Father (later, Archbishop) Hickey who was at that time planning to develop ‘scatter cottages’ to accommodate children family-size homes in towns rather than in dormitories on missions. In 1979, children from Wandering Mission were transferred to Centrecare Children’s Cottages at Beverley, Brookton and Northam.

Originally, the cottages accommodated children aged 0-5 years, mostly in sibling groups, but by 1982, children aged 0-15 years were admitted. There was desire to provide culturally-appropriate care and by 1983-83, all houseparents and some of the support staff were Aboriginal people.

Children admitted to Centrecare Children’s Cottages often had a range of behavioural and educational needs arising from multiple placements and youth detention, with interrupted schooling. To address these issues, the service included social worker, welfare officer and education officer support for the Homes.

By the mid-1980s it became apparent that children in the smaller centres of Beverley and Brookton were facing some discrimination as ‘Centrecare kids’ so Northam became the preferred location for establishing new cottages.

In 1987 a specialised Youth Cottage was opened, and children living there participated in educational programs as an alternative to mainstream schooling until 1990 when funding was discontinued. Centrecare established a Youth House in metropolitan Perth in 1990.

From 1987 to 1990, Centrecare Children’s Cottages also offered after-school ‘care’.

Family support and reunification services were also offered by Centrecare Children’s Cottages.

In 1990, a group Home in the metropolitan area, Glendalough Cottage, was opened.

On 27 August 1992, Centrecare Children’s Cottages changed its name to ‘Djooraminda’. At that time, five cottages were in operation.