Glenhuntly Rehabilitation Centre history in brief
The Glenhuntly Rehabilitation Centre operated from 1960 until it closed c.1995. An excerpt from the Mental Health Authority’s 1972 Annual Report (page 30):
“Glenhuntly Rehabilitation Centre has continued to alter its activities so that further attempts have been made to reduce those patients whose main problem is that of mental subnormality. More patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia were admitted. 52 patients were assessed, and of these 41 were accepted for rehabilitation. Of the 10 patients rejected, it was felt that most of these could not be expected to attend regularly. 47 patients were discharged from Glenhuntly.”
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.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
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.
Patient information
PLEASE NOTE: Patients could be admitted to a Receiving House for short-term treatment and care, but were not permitted to remain longer than two months.
Patients still needing treatment after two months could be sent to a Psychiatric Hospital, in the same institution/complex or another.
Hence, there could be more than one set of records for any one person. Please check each location for former patient records.
Patient histories (1983-95)
File; Temporary
Content: Case histories of outpatients receiving psychiatric treatment at the Glenhuntly Clinic.
These records document dealings between staff of the centre and its individual patients. File content includes:
- referrals
- application for admission forms
- details of patient interviews
- diagnosis
- reports
- correspondence between the centre and patients, other health workers and organisations.
The files relate to both male and female patients and are arranged alphabetically by patient family name.
Records of patients' outings (1994-96)
File; Temporary
Content: This collection consisted of outing/trips details forms created by staff at the Glenhuntly Clinic. The forms were used to document the outings and trips arranged and conducted from the centre by the clinic staff for clinic patients.
The forms also doubled as a checklist of patients involved. The forms show details of the staff on the outing or trip, the patients participating, destination and time of return.
The records were destroyed by 2008.
Departmental information
Administrative records (1960-95)
File; Temporary and Permanent (Unappraised)
Content: This collection contains a variety of records brought together after the closure of the clinic in the mid 1990s.
There are relatively few records, but they provide a useful historical insight into the operation of the clinic.
The records include:
- the participant register, which gives a chronological listing of all participants at the centre, including dates of admission and departure
- statistics that present similar information in a more comprehensive manner
- the general management, planning/review, review documents file and the photographs give a visual and written history of the centre
- the register of visits records community visitors’ regular visits to the centre to inspect conditions, operation of the centre and to speak to the clients to gauge their level of satisfaction.
Volunteer histories (1992-94)
File; Temporary
Content: These records contained information about four people who worked as volunteers at the clinic. The records consisted of application and registration forms that contained personal details, the volunteers’ reasons for applying and references.
The records were destroyed in 2013.
Finance records (1988-96)
File; Temporary
Content: This collection contained a variety of financial and accounting records including deposits, receipts, cash book summary sheets, requisitions, budgets, and petty cash records. The majority of the records related to operation of the clinic’s trust account.
The records were destroyed by 2008.
Property and asset registers (1993-96)
File; Temporary
Content: This collection contains a small number of files that document the purchase and upkeep of the centre’s physical assets.
The records have been destroyed.
Attendance records (1985-93)
File; Temporary
Content: These records were timesheets and time in lieu cards kept to record hours worked and time in lieu accumulated and used by staff.
The records were destroyed in 2009.
Employee records (1984-95)
File; Temporary
Content: These records document the employment histories of staff that were employed at the centre, 1984–95.
Reviewed 26 August 2016