Birralee Hostel was established as a purpose-built residential care facility by the Mentally Retarded Children's Association in Berri in 1971. It provided week day accommodation for children from surrounding areas attending the Berri Special School. In 1998, as a result of the decline in demand for accommodation for children, Birralee Hostel changed its purpose and converted to providing a home for six adults.
Birralee Hostel was opened by the Mentally Retarded Children's Association in Aitken Street, Berri in 1971. Land was made available by the State Government and a purpose built residential care facility was erected. The facility provided week day accommodation for children from surrounding areas attending the Berri Special School. It was the second Hostel to be established in a country region.
During the 1990s the policy of the Education Department was to integrate children with special needs into its schools. This reduced the demand for Special Schools and the need for Hostels for children attending them. The expectations of the families of children with intellectual disabilities also began to change.
In March 1998, as a result of the decline in demand for accommodation for children, Birralee Hostel changed its purpose and converted to providing a home for six adults.
Sources used to compile this entry: Lewis, Ian, Making a difference: sixty years of service to the people of South Australia, 1950-2010, Orana, 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20150311192731/http://oranaonline.com.au/Portals/0/PDFs/Orana%2060%20Year%20History%20Book_Final.pdf.
Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George
Created: 29 April 2014, Last modified: 18 May 2018
Last updated: 7 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/sa/biogs/SE01296b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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