| Koorana |
| Years of Operation | 1974 – 1986/87 |
| Role Of Facility | A “non-residential ‘open’ day attendance centre” for the treatment of primary school age children with severe schooling problems.
While not a residential facility, Koorana has been included in Signposts to assist those Wards and other privately-placed children who may have been residents in other of the Department’s or privately-run institutions, foster homes or group homes.
Annual Reports of the Department for Child Welfare state the reason why children were sent to Koorana: “The major referring problem is that the child’s behaviour is such that he is unable to progress as well as his ability would allow in a normal school setting. Other relevant issues may be that his behaviour is excessively interfering with the progress of other children in his class, and that his formal learning is much below what could be expected. Koorana does not accept children unless the local school, working with the staff of the Guidance and Special Education Branch of the Education Department has been unable to improve the child’s level of functioning.”
“Wardship is not necessary for referral to Koorana. Admissions are determined on the need of the individual case seen in the light of alternatives available, with some slight weighting given to wardship.” |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection and Family Support |
| Address(es) | Allen Court, Bentley |
| Brief History | Established in February 1974, the children were transported from their place of residence to Koorana.
By 1986, when the desire to keep children as much as possible in their natural community setting was becoming increasingly important, children would only be admitted to Koorana if all other community-based options had been exhausted.
By 1987, in response to a review of the McCall Centre programmes and the “rationalisation of programmes being offered by McCall Centre and Koorana”, the Koorana facility was closed and McCall developed a “new community based preventive programme.”
A more detailed chronology of major events and numbers of children referred is included in Table 20. |
| Records | Case files may exist |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Freedom of Information
Department for Child Protection and Family Support
PO Box 6334, East Perth WA 6892
Telephone: (08) 9222 2555
Facsimile: (08) 9222 2776
Country free call: 1800 000 277
Email: foi@cpfs.wa.gov.au
Website: www.childprotection.wa.gov.au |
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