Marlow Cottage, Kaleen, was established in 1986 under the Children’s Services Act 1986 and closed around 2016. It was originally known as Kaleen Youth Shelter and was run by the Welfare Branch, and later the Housing and Community Services Bureau of the ACT Government. It was established to provide accommodation for 12- to 17-year-olds who were on court orders deemed at risk of abuse or neglect, or because they must reside as directed as a condition of bail.
In 1995 the Government decided to privatise the operations of the Shelter and tenders were advertised in September 1995. Public outcry ensued, with concerns that the transition from a public sector service was a sign that the government did not want to provide services for the community, that it was a cost-cutting measure, and would potentially put the local community at risk. A motion in the Legislative Assembly narrowly failed to pause the transfer of ownership with the intention to keep it in the public sector. One tender was received by the Richmond Fellowship of the ACT Inc. and they commenced running the Shelter in November 1995.
With the transition to the Richmond Fellowship as a non-government provider the Shelter became known as Marlow Cottage. It provided short-term and emergency accommodation for young people aged between 11 and 18 years, including those on bail and awaiting sentencing, until it closed around 2016.
From
1986
To
2016
Alternative Names
Kaleen Youth Shelter
1986 - 2016
Marlow Cottage was situated at Kaleen, Australian Capital Territory (Building Still standing)