Archives



Children’s Welfare Advisory Council

The Children’s Welfare Advisory Council came into being with the passage of the Children’s Welfare Act 1954. The Council consisted of representatives nominated by the Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria and the Victorian Council of Social Service. Its name changed to the Family Welfare Advisory Council with the passage of the Social Welfare Act 1960….

Anglican Diocese of Ballarat

The Anglican (Church of England) Diocese of Ballarat has been in existence since at least 1863. The Diocese ran the St Cuthbert’s Children’s Home in Colac from 1948. The affairs of St Cuthbert’s Children’s Home were conducted by a Board of Management consisting of local citizens of the Colac and district community.

Central Dorcas Society

The Central Dorcas Society was a Wesleyan organisation established at a meeting of over 100 women in 1888. The aims of the Society were ‘to help the poor and look after waifs’. After a name change to the Central Dorcas Association Help and Rescue Society, in 1891 the Society became known as the Wesleyan Church…

The Salvation Army EastCare Network

The Salvation Army EastCare Network was established in 1995. The Network operates a range of programs in the Department of Human Services’ Eastern Metropolitan Region.

The Salvation Army Peninsula Youth & Family Services

Peninsula Youth and Family Services (PYFS) is part of the Salvation Army’s South East Services Network in Victoria. PYFS has offices in Frankston, Mornington and Rosebud.

Gordon Institute

The Gordon Institute, Melbourne, was established in 1886. It offered boys classes and a place to socialise. The Institute aimed to find boys work placements in the country, but did accommodate some boys aged 5 to 14. In 1951, new facilities were opened in Highett, and the institution became known as the Gordon Home for…

Bethany Community Support

Bethany Community Support, a child and family welfare agency, was formed in 1977. Formerly, Bethany operated as an adoption agency and babies home, and was known as the Bethany Babies’ Home. Bethany Community Support was an independent, voluntary organisation with no political or religious affiliations. In April 2023, Bethany merged with Barwon Child Youth &…

Victorian Children’s Aid Society

The Victorian Children’s Aid Society was established in 1920. It was formerly the Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society. It ran the Victorian Children’s Aid Home, located in Parkville until around 1966. In 1966 the Society moved the Home (which was renamed Swinburne House) and headquarters to Black Rock. From the 1970s, the Society expanded into…

Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society

The Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society was established in December 1894 as a non-denominational child rescue organisation. It dealt with hundreds of cases every year. The Society ran a Receiving Home in La Trobe Street, Melbourne. In November 1901, the Society opened a children’s Home in Parkville. In 1920, it changed its name, and became…

Family Focus

Family Focus was established in 1991, when the Victorian Children’s Aid Society amalgamated with Foster Care Westernport. In 1993, Family Focus amalgamated with Family Action and the National Children’s Bureau of Australia to form a new organisation, OzChild.