Agency
Allambie Reception Centre
VA 5033
1961 - 1990
Agency names
Officially known as: Allambie Reception Centre
Established to relieve overcrowding at Turana (VA 971) (formerly known as Royal Park Depot), the Allambie Reception Centre (VA 5033) at 70 Elgar Road, Burwood, opened on 1 July 1961 on the former site of the Kildonan Presbyterian Children's Home (1937-circa 1961). When the Allambie nursery commenced operation in 1964, the nursery at Turana was then converted for use by the Youth Welfare Division (YWD). As part of the Children's Home Section of the Social Welfare Branch's Family Welfare Division, Allambie was established under the Children's Welfare Act 1958 on 1 July 1961.
The Act recommended that the Family Welfare Division (FWD) of the Social Welfare Department establish a range of accommodation services for children who could not be fostered out or find placement within existing voluntary establishments. Allambie became the Department's main 'reception, treatment, classification and transit centre'.
On average, children stayed between two and three months in accordance with the recommendations of the Children's Welfare Act, which had urged the establishment of a range of accommodation services for infants and children to about age 8-10 years (14 years for girls; boys aged 10-14 years were accommodated at Baltara Reception Centre, Parkville) who could not be fostered out or find placement within existing voluntary establishments.
Allambie functioned as a reception centre for its entire thirty year history (the other three metropolitan centres, Baltara (VA 5090), Winlaton (VA 5093) and Turana (VA 971), had remand or Youth Training Centre functions as well). Allambie's functions also included: emergency care (under special circumstances); safe custody for children awaiting Court decisions; protection and nurturing care for all children (protection applications were normally heard by the Children's Court within a week of admission); participation in assessment and planning for State Wards; and remedial and development work as preparation for the child's return home or to an alternative placement.
Children who were State Wards also came to Allambie following a breakdown in home release, foster care or a children's home placement. A child's placement was decided upon by the Placement Committee, which met once a week. In 1962, the Committee comprised representatives of the Social Welfare Branch, Chief Secretary's Department (VA 2784) (including the Director of Family Welfare) and Allambie staff (including the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, and the Medical Officer).
When it opened, Allambie could accommodate up to 90 children in four separate sections. Until the nursery opened at Allambie in 1964, it did not receive babies and toddlers (who had been accommodated in the old nursery at Turana, which was then converted for other use). Allambie functioned as a reception centre throughout its 30 year history.
The functions and aims of the centre appear to have been reasonably consistent. The stated aims in the 1984 Allambie Action Plan, Information Paper were to:
"provide purposeful and high-quality care whilst children wait for decisions to be made about appropriate community placement, or for appropriate community placements to become available or where necessary, to facilitate the changes necessary to enable a child to return to their own social environment."
Its functions therefore included:
"...emergency care (under special circumstances); safe custody for children awaiting Court decisions; protection and nurturing care for all children; participation in assessment and case planning for State Wards; and remedial and development work as preparation for the child's return home or to an alternative placement."
Protection applications were normally heard by the Children's Court within a week of admission.
The Education Department operated a special school within Allambie's grounds (VA 3945), although some children attended schools in the community (VPRS 9898). Under the re-named Department of Community Welfare Services (VA 613) (1979-1985), more children were admitted to local schools in 1978/79. A day kindergarten was established just north of the school for 3-4 year olds in 1964. Younger children attended a pre-school centre in the Nursery building and were supervised by a trained kindergarten teacher. An activities officer was appointed in 1964 on a sessional basis and in 1972 this position became full-time and included coordinating a large team of volunteers assisting with activity efforts. Since one of the major aims of Allambie was to reunite children with parents and family, siblings and close relatives were encouraged to maintain contact with resident children.
Until the 1970s Allambie suffered from overcrowding, severe at times, despite efforts to relieve this situation by the establishment of a number of children's homes and expansions at Allambie itself. Initially Allambie had accommodation for 90 children, for 150 by 1966, 190 in 1970, and for 230 children in 1972. Throughout its history, it provided care for boys up to about 10 years of age, and girls up to age 14.
In the 1970s, Allambie had three large sections that placed sibling groups together, Waratah, Kurrajong and Mimosa. Other sections included:
- the Nursery, for babies who were separated from other children for medical reasons
- Tecoma, for up to 10 school-age boys
- Heath/Cassia, for 22 adolescent girls
During the 1960s and 1970s, there was a significant shortage of suitable options for children and young people, and many stayed at Allambie and Turana for very long periods, worsening overcrowding.
Allambie employed more than 160 childcare staff across 24-hour, seven-day rosters. Additional social work staff undertook casework and planning. Over the 15 year period, the FWD experienced increases in the numbers of children coming to the division as wards or on safe custody orders. At Allambie there were difficulties in finding mental health placements, suitable placements for babies and preschoolers (particularly if they were handicapped), late school-aged girls and boys with behavioural problems, and sibling groups, particularly those which had pre-school members. Despite overall decreases in admissions from the1975/76 period, placements for these groups remained problematic. The average stay of school children was 12 and 14 weeks in 1975/76 and 1976/77 respectively. For pre-schoolers it was 20 and 24 weeks respectively.
From 1976, a changing rationale in child care saw placement as a last alternative to other means of family support. Improved family support services were responsible for declining numbers of children being admitted to the care of the Department, and wardship was also increasingly regarded as a last resort.
Reorganisation of the department together with the establishment of 3 regional centres and regionalisation of reception care in the 1977/78 period meant operational changes for Allambie, with the reduction of case planning responsibilities at the facility and the regional centres' total assumption of after care responsibilities of children released to their homes.
At this time, Allambie came under the Residential Child Care section of the new family and Adolescent Services Division. Under the re-named Department of Community Welfare Services (VA 613), more children were admitted to local schools in 1978/79.
In the 1980s, separation of children from their families and communities came to be considered not only as undesirable, but also as counterproductive. Further regionalisation of reception functions occurred, including the establishment of the Western Suburbs Reception Centre and other smaller centres. The 1985 Statewide Services Redevelopment (SRD) plan focussed on keeping the child or young person in their own region or community by placing them with families whilst court decisions were being made, rather than placing them in one of four metropolitan reception centres. SRD involved utilising resources from central institutions to develop local services and funding was redirected to regional areas.
By the early 1980s, Allambie accommodated about 100 children. The placement of children with severe social, emotional and mental problems was still a difficulty. Allambie's foreseen closure was delayed by a significant increase in the number of children requiring reception care and protection. The nursery at Allambie closed in 1986. Allambie Reception Centre closed on 30 June 1990. In its place, the department of Community Services Victoria established a number of community residential units, family support programs, and services for young offenders.
The Act recommended that the Family Welfare Division (FWD) of the Social Welfare Department establish a range of accommodation services for children who could not be fostered out or find placement within existing voluntary establishments. Allambie became the Department's main 'reception, treatment, classification and transit centre'.
On average, children stayed between two and three months in accordance with the recommendations of the Children's Welfare Act, which had urged the establishment of a range of accommodation services for infants and children to about age 8-10 years (14 years for girls; boys aged 10-14 years were accommodated at Baltara Reception Centre, Parkville) who could not be fostered out or find placement within existing voluntary establishments.
Allambie functioned as a reception centre for its entire thirty year history (the other three metropolitan centres, Baltara (VA 5090), Winlaton (VA 5093) and Turana (VA 971), had remand or Youth Training Centre functions as well). Allambie's functions also included: emergency care (under special circumstances); safe custody for children awaiting Court decisions; protection and nurturing care for all children (protection applications were normally heard by the Children's Court within a week of admission); participation in assessment and planning for State Wards; and remedial and development work as preparation for the child's return home or to an alternative placement.
Children who were State Wards also came to Allambie following a breakdown in home release, foster care or a children's home placement. A child's placement was decided upon by the Placement Committee, which met once a week. In 1962, the Committee comprised representatives of the Social Welfare Branch, Chief Secretary's Department (VA 2784) (including the Director of Family Welfare) and Allambie staff (including the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, and the Medical Officer).
When it opened, Allambie could accommodate up to 90 children in four separate sections. Until the nursery opened at Allambie in 1964, it did not receive babies and toddlers (who had been accommodated in the old nursery at Turana, which was then converted for other use). Allambie functioned as a reception centre throughout its 30 year history.
The functions and aims of the centre appear to have been reasonably consistent. The stated aims in the 1984 Allambie Action Plan, Information Paper were to:
"provide purposeful and high-quality care whilst children wait for decisions to be made about appropriate community placement, or for appropriate community placements to become available or where necessary, to facilitate the changes necessary to enable a child to return to their own social environment."
Its functions therefore included:
"...emergency care (under special circumstances); safe custody for children awaiting Court decisions; protection and nurturing care for all children; participation in assessment and case planning for State Wards; and remedial and development work as preparation for the child's return home or to an alternative placement."
Protection applications were normally heard by the Children's Court within a week of admission.
The Education Department operated a special school within Allambie's grounds (VA 3945), although some children attended schools in the community (VPRS 9898). Under the re-named Department of Community Welfare Services (VA 613) (1979-1985), more children were admitted to local schools in 1978/79. A day kindergarten was established just north of the school for 3-4 year olds in 1964. Younger children attended a pre-school centre in the Nursery building and were supervised by a trained kindergarten teacher. An activities officer was appointed in 1964 on a sessional basis and in 1972 this position became full-time and included coordinating a large team of volunteers assisting with activity efforts. Since one of the major aims of Allambie was to reunite children with parents and family, siblings and close relatives were encouraged to maintain contact with resident children.
Until the 1970s Allambie suffered from overcrowding, severe at times, despite efforts to relieve this situation by the establishment of a number of children's homes and expansions at Allambie itself. Initially Allambie had accommodation for 90 children, for 150 by 1966, 190 in 1970, and for 230 children in 1972. Throughout its history, it provided care for boys up to about 10 years of age, and girls up to age 14.
In the 1970s, Allambie had three large sections that placed sibling groups together, Waratah, Kurrajong and Mimosa. Other sections included:
- the Nursery, for babies who were separated from other children for medical reasons
- Tecoma, for up to 10 school-age boys
- Heath/Cassia, for 22 adolescent girls
During the 1960s and 1970s, there was a significant shortage of suitable options for children and young people, and many stayed at Allambie and Turana for very long periods, worsening overcrowding.
Allambie employed more than 160 childcare staff across 24-hour, seven-day rosters. Additional social work staff undertook casework and planning. Over the 15 year period, the FWD experienced increases in the numbers of children coming to the division as wards or on safe custody orders. At Allambie there were difficulties in finding mental health placements, suitable placements for babies and preschoolers (particularly if they were handicapped), late school-aged girls and boys with behavioural problems, and sibling groups, particularly those which had pre-school members. Despite overall decreases in admissions from the1975/76 period, placements for these groups remained problematic. The average stay of school children was 12 and 14 weeks in 1975/76 and 1976/77 respectively. For pre-schoolers it was 20 and 24 weeks respectively.
From 1976, a changing rationale in child care saw placement as a last alternative to other means of family support. Improved family support services were responsible for declining numbers of children being admitted to the care of the Department, and wardship was also increasingly regarded as a last resort.
Reorganisation of the department together with the establishment of 3 regional centres and regionalisation of reception care in the 1977/78 period meant operational changes for Allambie, with the reduction of case planning responsibilities at the facility and the regional centres' total assumption of after care responsibilities of children released to their homes.
At this time, Allambie came under the Residential Child Care section of the new family and Adolescent Services Division. Under the re-named Department of Community Welfare Services (VA 613), more children were admitted to local schools in 1978/79.
In the 1980s, separation of children from their families and communities came to be considered not only as undesirable, but also as counterproductive. Further regionalisation of reception functions occurred, including the establishment of the Western Suburbs Reception Centre and other smaller centres. The 1985 Statewide Services Redevelopment (SRD) plan focussed on keeping the child or young person in their own region or community by placing them with families whilst court decisions were being made, rather than placing them in one of four metropolitan reception centres. SRD involved utilising resources from central institutions to develop local services and funding was redirected to regional areas.
By the early 1980s, Allambie accommodated about 100 children. The placement of children with severe social, emotional and mental problems was still a difficulty. Allambie's foreseen closure was delayed by a significant increase in the number of children requiring reception care and protection. The nursery at Allambie closed in 1986. Allambie Reception Centre closed on 30 June 1990. In its place, the department of Community Services Victoria established a number of community residential units, family support programs, and services for young offenders.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
