Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience. Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
Departmental administration
Voluntary children’s homes files (c.1930–c.85)
File; Permanent (VPRS Number 18069 / P0001); Permanent (VPRS Number 18069 / P0002)
Content: The files record interaction between the various voluntary homes and the government. This filing system was created in 1975, combining earlier correspondence and other records to create one system with VH prefixes.
The specific files relating to the Aboriginal Hostels Limited date from 1973–84 and include:
File VH-129:
- copy of 1973 annual report, 1973
- Aboriginal Legal Service AGM minutes and annual report, 1974
- correspondence between the Department and Aboriginal Legal Service regarding funding, 1974•correspondence and case information regarding wards and placement of wards, 1975
- minutes Aboriginal Victorian Legal Service Cooperative General meeting, 1975
- Aboriginal Legal ServiceHostel, 276 Brunswick Road, Brunswick, report on facility, staff and named wards, 1975
- press clipping, 1975
- correspondence regarding financial arrangements for state wards, 1975
- report entitled, Homes for Blacks, Aboriginal Community and Adoption, 1976
- inspection reports, including names, 1975, 1976
- departmental report on concerns about the hostel, 1976
- inquiry regarding extending hostel capacity Gunia Lodge, 10 King Street, Dandenong, 1976
- correspondence regarding Lionel Rose Centre, Morwell;
- capacity and children placed there, 1977
- correspondence regarding payments to hostels, 1978
- report on issues requiring clarification, 1978
- non-approved homes are not automatically eligible for funding, 1978
- minutes of meeting 1978
- copy of memorandum and articles of association of Aboriginal Hostels Ltd, 1978
- Wirraminna Hostel staffing requirements, 1982–83
- correspondence regarding funding cuts, 1983
- Aboriginal Hostels Limited, Hostels Acquisition Program, funding submission
- annual report and newsletter, 1976
- correspondence regarding funding for listed wards of state, including case summaries, 1975
- correspondence regarding funding for wards placed at hostel, Morwell, 1975
- reports on two families of wards placed at Wirraminna hostel, Essendon, 1975
- report on Lionel Rose hostel for boys and Kurrumbee hostel for girls, Morwell, 1975
- documentation relating to funding for wards at Essendon, Brunswick and Morwell hostels, 1975, 1976
- pamphlets from Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1970, 1974.
File VH-129A:
- memorandum regarding a family where two children (named) require new clothing, 1977
- meeting between Aboriginal Hostels Ltd (South East Region) and Children’s home section, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
- hostel manager’s agreement (employment), c.1980
- financial breakdown for funding, 1980
- detailed case information for named children, 1981
- funding options submitted to the minister, 1981, 1982
- case information on named children resident in the home, 1982
- correspondence regarding funding for staffing and departmental concern at lack of replacement staff, 1982
- correspondence and minutes of meeting regarding appropriate placement for named children 1983
- application for and approval of establishment of an approved children’s home, Wirraminna family group home, 1983
- correspondence regarding new subsidies as a family group home, 1983
- staff funding application, 1984.
Child information
Aboriginal youth support unit client files (1979–87)
File; Unappraised
Content: These client files are arranged alphabetically by family name and represent young Aboriginal people who were living at training centres or in the community. They were wards of the state, probationers, on parole or voluntarily in the program. Files may include youth training classification reports, leave details, and pre-court reports.
The support unit was attached to the Bert Williams Hostel, but as a separate program under Community Services Victoria until 1989, when management was devolved to the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Incorporated.
The records are identified by the name and date of birth of the young person to whom the file relates. They are in rough alphabetical order by family name.
Reviewed 28 May 2019