Gilles Plains Assessment Unit

The Gilles Plains Assessment Unit replaced the Gilles Plains Community Unit in 1992. Run by the government, the Assessment Unit was built at the same Gilles Plains address. It provided short-term emergency care for up to eight children between the ages of eight to upper teens. The Gilles Plains Assessment Unit was still operating in 2008.

The Gilles Plains Assessment Unit replaced the Gilles Plains Community Unit in 1992. Run by the Department of Family and Community Services, the Assessment Unit was a purpose built facility located at the same Gilles Plains address, 643 North East Road. The new Unit provided short-term emergency care for up to eight children, boys and girls, between the ages of eight to upper teens.

An assessment unit was the name given to a residential unit used for the short term placement of children under the care of the government. Children were placed in these units while their needs were assessed and longer term placements were found.

After the passing of the Community Welfare Act in 1972, assessment became the policy of the Department. It was introduced with the aim to ensure that the most appropriate form of longer term residential care was chosen for each child based on his or her individual needs.

The Gilles Plains Assessment Unit was one of the institutions that came under scrutiny for allegations of abuse during the Children in State Care Inquiry 2004-2008. The Unit was still operating at the time of the publication of the Children in State Care Inquiry Final Report in 2008.