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Colac Foster Care

Colac Foster Care was established and run by the Sisters of Mercy in around 1975.

Geelong Foster Care

Geelong Foster Care was established and run by the Sisters of Mercy in 1974. Geelong Foster Care operated until 1997. In 1972 and 1973 as policy changed towards shifting to smaller, community-based facilities the Sisters of Mercy purchased six local residences to establish family group homes. By 1975 children still residing at St. Catherine’s Children’s…

Mercy Family Care Centre

Mercy Family Care Centre in North Geelong was established by the Sisters of Mercy, following the closure of St Catherine’s Children’s’ Home in Highton in 1975. The Centre provided a family-focused model of care, including foster care, residential care, educational services and family support. In July 1997, Mercy Family Care became part of MacKillop Family…

St Joseph’s Babies’ Home

St Joseph’s Babies Home in Glenroy was established in 1975, when the Sisters of St Joseph closed their Foundling Hospital in Broadmeadows. The Glenroy Home established a foster care service, primarily to provide pre-adoptive placements. In 1985, it became part of the new St Joseph’s Babies’ and Family Service, established when the sisters closed the…

St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital

St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in May 1901 at Broadmeadows. It was also known as the Broadmeadows Babies Home. It housed babies and children up to the age of three and a half, some older children and expectant mothers. The Hospital also trained mothercraft nurses. It closed in…

Christian Brothers’ Child Youth and Family Services

Christian Brothers’ Child Youth and Family Services was formed in 1995, in the lead-up to the creation of MacKillop Family Services in 1997.

Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart

The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart is a religious order founded in 1866, at Penola in South Australia. Its first member and Superior was Mary MacKillop. The Sisters were active in several Australian states in education and child welfare, establishing several schools, orphanages and babies’ and children’s Homes. The order of the…

St Anthony’s Family Service

St Anthony’s Family Service, Footscray, was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1976, following the closure of St Anthony’s Children’s Home in Kew. It provided family support services combined with specialist educational services and family group home care. In 1997, these services became part of MacKillop Family Services. St Anthony’s Family Service administration…

Berry Street – Child and Family Care

Berry Street – Child and Family Care was the new name given in 1975 to the former Berry Street Babies’ Home and Hospital. The name change reflected Berry Street’s new focus on child care, family counselling and support, and residential care for children in family group homes. In 1992, the name changed again to Berry…

Sutherland Child Youth and Family Services

Sutherland Child Youth and Family Services came into being in 1991. It was previously known as Sutherland Homes for Children. In 1994, Sutherland Child Youth and Family Services amalgamated with Berry Street, to form a new organisation with the Berry Street name. Sutherland Child Youth and Family Services came into being in 1991. It was…