The Training Schools Act 1867 also known by its full title “An Act to encourage the Establishment of Training Schools” (Act no. 31 Vict.No.36) established the Training School system in Tasmania. This legislation was repealed in 1896 by the Youthful Offenders, Destitute and Neglected Children Act 1896 (Act no. 60 Vict No.24) and underwent two significant amendments throughout its lifetime. Training Schools was the term used in Tasmania for institutions that were more commonly known as Reformatories in other jurisdictions.
The Training Schools established by the 1867 legislation were an attempt to separate children who were considered neglected from those considered to be delinquent. Neglected children were placed in an industrial school or the boarding out system, while the others were sent to a training school. In reality, the difference was not clear cut and children who were state wards because of neglect might be placed in a training school because they were difficult to manage or had absconded. On one occasion, FR Seager, the Secretary of the Neglected Children’s Department, placed some boys who had been neglected at the Boys’ Training School to help with the farm work.
This legislation provides details about who can be sent to a Training School, minimum and maximum terms of detention at a Training School, release from Training Schools, Inspection of Training Schools and punishment, including hard labour, for children who run away or ‘misbehave’ whilst detained in a Training School. Children detained in a Training School could also be apprenticed or allowed to live outside of the Training School with a ‘trustworthy and respectful person’. The legislation also details access to the Training School of religious practitioners to administer religious instruction, as well as the financial responsibilities of parents or guardians of children detained in a Training School.
Under this legislation Training schools were to be certified by the Colonial Secretary, this certificate could also be revoked by the Colonial Secretary. Any building works or alterations had to be passed by the Colonial Secretary as did any rules for the management of children detained at the school.
Although this legislation enabled Training Schools to refuse to take a child, once a child was accepted in a Training School the Training School had to educate, clothe, lodge and feed that child for the entirety of their mandated detention. The Colonial Secretary could move a child from one Training School to another, and in the event of a Training School closing the Colonial Secretary could discharge children or move them to another Training School.
Although the legislation envisaged training schools for boys and girls, the only girls’ training school, the Hobart Girls’ Training School, closed in 1907. This was because girls could be sent to the newly established rescue homes, where the emphasis was on training them in sexual morality. Social reformers of the day placed less importance on this issue for boys. Instead, they wanted to prevent them from breaking the law. This meant that the Boys’ Training School stayed open longer. It also had more influence on future policy. The Boys’ Training School lasted until 1926, when it became Ashley Home for Boys. Although it had a new name, it kept much of the character of the former Boys’ Training School. In 1999, it became the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, which, in 2014, accommodates girls and boys.