The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the national non government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, was established in 1981.
The first branch of the Church of England Boys’ Society (CEBS) in Australia was established in around 1914 in Kew, Victoria. It was initially under the guidance of the Church of England Men’s Society. CEBS played a role in a number of children’s institutions in Victoria, sometimes delivering services in conjunction with St John’s Homes…
The Franciscan Friars arrived in Victoria in 1839 and built two of the colony’s first churches. This Catholic Order, which dates back to Italy in 1209, has been working in Australia almost since the time of first European contact. In Victoria, the Franciscans ran the Morning Star Boys’ Home and Padua Hall.
The Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines was established in 1869, under the provisions of the Aborigines Protection Act 1869. Previously, the Central Board Appointed to Watch Over the Interests of Aborigines had been operating in Victoria since 1860. The Board, which ran missions and reserve stations in Victoria, had significant statutory power over…
The Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was run by a non-denominational Committee of Management, comprising a President, two Vice-Presidents, five Trustees, a Treasurer and a Committee of Management of sixteen members. Each year it would meet to present the annual report and balance sheet, and to hold elections for officers. A House Committee of five people…
On 9 August 2006, the Premier Steve Bracks delivered an apology to Forgotten Australians on behalf of the Victorian Government. The Victorian Government apologised to Forgotten Australians on 9 August 2006. This is the text of the apology, which was presented by the Premier Steve Bracks: The government of Victoria welcomes the report of the…
Hayeslee House was established in 1976 in Ballarat. It was run by the committee that also managed Lisa Lodge Girls’ Hostel. Initially, Hayeslee was created to accommodate adolescent girls being transferred from Nazareth House, Ballarat, which closed in 1976. Hayeslee House accommodated boys and girls, aged 11 to 15 from the Ballarat district. In 1977…
In 1970, eight women from Ballarat, who worked as Honorary Probation Officers, established a hostel for adolescent girls called Lisa Lodge. In 1976, the Committee established Hayeslee House. In 1994, Lisa Lodge Hostel closed and was replaced by a Family Adolescent Support Team. Hayeslee House, which relocated from Ballarat to Sebastopol in 1977, was renamed…
Lisa Lodge Girls’ Hostel, Ballarat, was established in 1970 and was run by a committee of women, all of whom were Honorary Probation Officers. It provided residential care for eight adolescent girls at a time. Lisa Lodge was located in a number of different properties around Ballarat. The Hostel closed in 1994. Some time after…
The George Street Children’s Home was established in 1916 and run by the Ballarat Town and City Mission. The Town and City Mission Visitor of 4 August 1916 appealed for more furniture to be donated to help the children at George Street settle in, and “make the place something like it ought to be”. In September 1916…