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WA School for Deaf Children

The WA School for Deaf Children was established in East Perth in 1896 as the West Australian Deaf and Dumb Instution. It moved to Buckland Hill (Mosman Park) in 1900. This residential school admitted children of all ages, including those who were wards of the state and private boarders, until the residential section closed in…

Vailima Hostel

Vailima Hostel, in Narrogin accommodated Aboriginal girls and boys in a Christian environment while they went to school or work. It was associated with the Roelands Native Mission Farm and a local pastor from Narrogin. House parents lived at Vailima. Child welfare authorities placed children at Vailima. It closed on 25 November 1977. Vailima Hostel,…

Strelley Station

Strelley Station, in the Pilbara, was run by a local Aboriginal community. From at least 1981 to 1983, the Department for Community Welfare sent male and female Aboriginal teenagers who had been convicted of offences to Strelley so that they could receive practical training and guidance. Strelley Station was one of a number of pastoral…

Crossroads west

Crossroads west is the Salvation Army’s administrative body for youth residential and support programs. It was established in 1991 on the site of the Hollywood Children’s Village to administer its child and youth services programs in Western Australia. Crossroads west, the Salvation Army’s administration body for youth residential and support programs, was officially launched on…

Roelands Native Mission Farm

Roelands Native Mission Farm was established in 1938 and was run by a council of management with Protestant church associations. It began as a farm for Aboriginal families but by 1941 admitted only Aboriginal children. At first, children under 8 were placed at Roelands, but older children were later placed there. There were 85 boys…

Chandler Boys’ Farm

Chandler Boys’ Farm was established in 1932 on a property at Seven Hills on the banks of the Collie River at Roelands. It was a privately-run training centre for up to 20 unemployed boys aged over 14 years who were selected for placement. Some had parents who paid fees, but others were subsidised. The farm…

Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church was established in the Crown Colony of Western Australia in 1879. In 1901, it joined with other States to form the Presbyterian Church of Australia and in 1977 became part of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Presbyterian Church in WA was involved with missions, Children’s Homes and Homes for children and…

Parkerville Children’s Home

The Parkerville Children’s Home continued the Waifs’ Home, Parkerville from 1909. It was run by the Community of the Sisters of the Church from 1909 to 1925 and from 1925 to 2005 by the Parkerville Children’s Home Incorporated. Over time, Parkerville developed a range of youth care and family services, including non-residential programs. In 2005…

Norseman Mission

Norseman Mission was a ‘children’s mission’ established in 1935 by members of the Churches of Christ and then run from 1942 by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc. Its purpose was to provide accommodation, education and vocational training for children and young people aged 2-15 years. The number of children at the…

Ngal-a Mothercraft Home and Training Centre Inc

The Ngal-a Mothercraft Home and Training Centre Inc (Ngala) was the new name given in 1956 to The Alexandra Home for Mothers and Babies (Inc) and Mothercraft Training School, in Highgate. In 1959 Ngala moved to Kensington. Ngala had three functions: a maternity home for mothers and babies; from 1959, the ‘reception centre’ for all…