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Princess Elizabeth Kindergarten for the Deaf

The Princess Elizabeth Kindergarten for the Deaf, in Elgar Road Burwood, opened in 1950. It was the first residential and daily pre-school centre for deaf children in Australia. It was run by the board of the Victorian School for Deaf Children. From 1957 to 1971 the State Education Department were responsible for the teaching staff…

South Western Community Care Association Inc.

The South Western Community Care Association Inc. was formed in 1991, through the amalgamation of Glenelg Foster Care, Currawong House Hamilton, South Western Tenant Support Services and Warrnambool Community Legal Aid Service. From 1991 to 1995, South Western Community Care Association was auspiced by Lutheran Children’s Homes. In 1998, the organisation changed its name to…

Adoption of Children (Information) Act 1980, Victoria

The Adoption of Children (Information) Act 1980 (No. 9510) amended the Adoption of Children Act 1964, and made provisions for access to information about adoptions.

Corporate Integrity, Information and Resolutions Unit, Department of Human Services

The Corporate Integrity Information and Resolutions unit (CIIRu) was responsible for Freedom of Information requests and complaints management for both the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Health (DH). In 2013 the Department of Human Services created a new Freedom of Information Unit with responsibility for the release of wardship (state ward)…

Kilmany UnitingCare

Kilmany UnitingCare has major outlets in the Gippsland region of Victoria, including in the towns of Bairnsdale, Sale and Leongatha. Kilmany UnitingCare provides community based services including foster care, family counselling, family day care, youth work, family support and financial counselling. It was formerly known as Kilmany Family Care. In July 2010 this agency changed…

Copelen

In 1998 the Copelen Child and Family Services renamed Copelen. In 2000 it amalgamated with Wheelers Hill Family Centre and the Canterbury Family Centre to create the new organisation Connections UnitingCare.

Status of Children Act 1974, Victoria

The Status of Children Act 1974 ( Vic) ( No. 8602) removed the legal disabilities of children born out of wedlock in Victoria. The long title was ‘An Act to remove the Legal Disabilities of Children born out of Wedlock.’ It came into operation on 1 March 1975.

Child Saving Council

The Child Saving Council was established in Victoria in 1910, when a group of ‘child savers’ came together in 1910. The Council’s aims included promoting the work of child welfare organisations and discussion among these organisations. In 1912, the Council became the Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria.

Government Welfare Training Council

The Government Welfare Training Council was established in 1963, in Lisson Grove, Hawthorn. It provided what was for many people the first formal staff training in child care. Previously, the only training offered for child care workers was a course run by the Victorian Council of Social Service. The training centre was established in response…

Mental Deficiency Act 1939, Victoria

The Mental Deficiency Act 1939 (No.4704) provided for the establishment of state institutions for the care of mental defectives and retarded children and for the licensing of privately run institutions. It transferred responsibility for children defined in this way from the Education Department to the Department of Mental Hygiene. This change reflects the views at…