A reformatory was an institution for “criminal” children, later known as juvenile offenders. Reformatories were designed to remove children from adult prisons, as well as to separate children who had committed offences from so-called “neglected” children. The name of this institution reflects the notion that, intercepted early enough, young criminals could be reformed. However, in…
Foster care is a home-based service provided to children and young people up to 18 years of age who are temporarily or permanently unable to live with their families of origin. Foster parents are paid an allowance to help cover the cost of maintaining the foster child. The foster care system was historically managed by…
The terms state ward or ward of the state were legal terms used to describe a child under the guardianship of a state (or territory) child welfare authority. The State, as the ward’s guardian, assumed responsibility for the care, custody and control of the child to the exclusion of parental rights. The various laws passed…
Boarding out was the term used to describe the placement of children and young people in foster care in private homes. Nineteenth century reformers advocated boarding out because it provided more of a family life than the big institutions. Under the boarding out system, government agencies paid foster parents a weekly fee – the boarding…
St. Christopher’s Home for Little Children, Records is a collection of records dating from 1920 to 1979 and held by the University of Newcastle Library’s Cultural Collections. St. Christopher’s Home for Little Children, Records is part of the Diocese of Newcastle Children’s Homes collection. The collection consists of correspondence files, registers of admission, illness, and…
The child rescue movement was an outgrowth of the evangelical revival in England, it captured the imagination of many Australian philanthropists during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, leaving a particular mark on colonial and state child welfare services. Child rescuers argued that the existing orphanages and statutory organisations were too passive in their…
The Salvation Army Australia came into being in 2018 – the Australia Territory Board of Governance held its first meeting in September 2018. Previously, the Salvation Army structure had comprised the Southern and Eastern Territories. In 2022, the Salvation Army (also known as The Salvos) continues to provide a range of community services in Australia,…
Salvation Army Australia, Records of Homes in the former Eastern Territory is a collection relating to Salvation Army children’s institutions in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The Salvation Army also holds records relating to maternity Homes and adoptions conducted in its Eastern Territory. The surviving records vary for each institution however…
The Murdoch Holiday Home was a holiday home run by Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children. It opened at Murdoch Street, Huskisson on 6 November 1954. It was a holiday home for children living at other Burnside homes. Children from each of the Burnside homes spent two weeks at the Huskisson home every year. It was…
The Anglican Diocese of Armidale was established in 1914. Previously, it was known as the Diocese of Armidale and Grafton. The Diocese had two children’s Homes, run by a committee of management – Ohio Boys’ Home and Coventry Home. In a statement to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2016,…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
