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Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn

The Catholic Diocese of Goulburn was established in 1862, later including the city of Canberra and surrounding areas. It became the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn in 1948.

Barnardos Children’s Family Centre

Barnardos Children’s Family Centre in Downer came into being in 1983 and replaced Barnardos House and Berwick House in Curtin. By the early 1990s Barnardos had shifted away from residential care to foster care and family support. From 1993 Barnardos Children’s Family Centre has run Find-a-Family ACT, a program organising permanent foster placements. Barnardos Children’s…

Aboriginal Girls’ Hostel

The Aboriginal Girls’ Hostel was established in Broome in 1970. It was initially established as a hostel for girls and unmarried mothers travelling to Broome from nearby missions. However, it was soon dedicated solely to children aged 0 – 14 years old, some of whom were state wards, and women escaping domestic violence. The Hostel…

Kindra Cottage Home, Bassendean

Kindra Cottage was a family group home established by the Salvation Army in Bassendean in late 1970. It provided accommodation for up to 8 children aged between approximately 7 and 14 years old, and was run by a married couple acting as ‘cottage parents’. Kindra closed in 1975, following a decline in the number of…

CatholicCare Tasmania

CatholicCare Tasmania was formerly known as Centacare Tasmania. The name change was adopted on 1 July 2015 in order to more clearly identify the organisation with the Catholic Church. CatholicCare Tasmania continued Centacare Tasmania’s work as the primary social services agency of the Catholic Church in Tasmania. In 2022 CatholicCare Tasmania provided Therapeutic Residential Care…

St Patrick’s Province (Victoria and Tasmania), Christian Brothers

St Patrick’s Province (Victoria and Tasmania) of the Christian Brothers was established in 1967. That year, St Patrick’s Province of the Christian Brothers was split into two provinces: St Patrick’s (Victoria and Tasmania) and Holy Spirit Province of the Christian Brothers (which governed the states of South Australia and Western Australia). St Patrick’s Province (Victoria…

Villa Maria Society

The Villa Maria Society was established in 1948. Previously it was known as the Catholic Braille Writers’ Association, founded in 1907. From 1938, it ran the Villa Maria Hostel in Prahran, a residence for adult blind people. In 1957, Villa Maria Society established St Paul’s School for the Blind (which continues to operate in 2022…

Presbyterian Home for Mothers and Babies

The Presbyterian Home for Mothers and Babies (also known as Koolkuna) was located in Redcliffe. The Home opened in around 1968 and continued to operate until around 1974. After it closed, it was converted by the Presbyterian Church into a Family Care Home, and later a refuge to provide emergency care and support to women…

Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers

The Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers opened in Marion Street, Leichhardt in 1968 by the Central Methodist Mission. The exact closing date of the Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers is unknown, but it is believed to have closed around 1977. The need for a new Home for unmarried pregnant women was identified in…

St Vincent’s Hostel

St Vincent’s Hostel was opened in 1924 by the Christian Brothers in Albert Park for boys who had been apprenticed in the city but could not afford to pay private board. St Vincent’s Hostel closed in June 1967. Despite objections to the hostel opening by neighbours, on 24 August 1924 St Vincent’s Hostel opened at…