Jesus People Welfare Services Incorporated

Jesus People Welfare Services Incorporated was a Christian welfare service that was incorporated in Western Australia in 1974. Child welfare authorities made referrals to residential and youth welfare facilities run by Jesus People. It was also known later as Perth City Mission and in 1997 became part of Mission Australia. Mission Australia has inherited the records of Jesus People Welfare Services.

Jesus People (Inc) as a legal entity was deregistered in 2006, but prior to that (in 1997) had become part of Mission Australia.

Government reports (Signposts 2004, pp.344-345) and archival records show that young people (male and female) were placed in facilities run by Jesus People from at least 1975. A record from 1976 refers to ‘Jesus House’. There was a crisis centre in Hay Street, Perth that provided immediate shelter, food and support from youth workers. It ran a refuge in South Perth, and Carmel House in Morley and Yirra Hostel in Mount Lawley. It also ran a Youth Accommodation and Support Service (YASS), established in 1991.

Telephone directories from the late 1970s and early 1980s indicate that Jesus People Inc had a number of locations around Perth, including at the New Life Centre at 246 Adelaide Terrace, and listings at 277 Hay St East Perth and 301 Mill Point Road South Perth.

In 1983 Jesus People took over what was formerly the site of Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, where the organisation established a “kibbutz-style project” where young people could live and receive training, placed with one of the 12 resident families living in the Fairbridge village. The Fairbridge Village housed up to 70 young people at one stage, but the initiative was abandoned in early 1985, due to a lack of funding.

In 1995, Jesus People services were described (Signposts p.344) as ‘accommodation and support for 14-18 year olds from 14 days to six months’. These services were intended to enable young people to develop the skills and confidence to live independently and re-integrate with family and other community relationships.

In 1997, the services run by Jesus People/Perth City Mission were continued by Mission Australia.