The Burnside Homes for Children was the new name for Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children. The name change occurred when the Uniting Church in Australia was formed and the Uniting Church Board of Responsibility took control of the Burnside Homes. From 1978 to 1986 residential care at the Burnside site in North Parramatta was wound up. In 1986 all residential care for children and young people had moved offsite and the organisation changed its name to Burnside.
The way children are cared for by Burnside has changed considerably over the years reflecting changes in child care theories. Originally, children were housed on the North Parramatta site, in the cottage homes, which housed 20-30 children.
In the 1960s the capacity of the homes, originally designed to accommodate 30 children, was reduced to house twelve to fifteen. Also in the 1960s, Burnside began to establish group homes in the suburbs which were designed to care for around six children at a time. In the 1970s, a comprehensive and successful system of foster care was established by Burnside social workers.
From the late 1970s the children’s cottages on the Burnside site were progressive closed down. In the 1980s Burnside Homes for Children began leasing properties in Fairfield and Cabramatta to provide accommodation for refugee children from Cambodia. Other family group homes were also established in this period.
From 1986 Burnside Homes for Children stopped running children’s homes on the North Parramatta site. It became known simply as Burnside.
This page was written by Naomi Parry, last updated 29 July 2024. Sources used to create this entry:
From
1978
To
1986
Alternative Names
Burnside
Burnside Homes
1978 - 1986
Burnside Homes for Children was situated at Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta, New South Wales (Building Still standing)
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