AGY-575 | Minda

Full description

On 25 March, 1966 in pursuance of the provisions of section 49 of the Child Welfare Act, 1939 (as amended) "a shelter for the reception and temporary detention of children or young persons" to be called "Minda" was proclaimed. (1)

The name "Minda" was an Aboriginal word meaning "shelter". (2) The institution was a 'shelter' or remand centre for juveniles charged with misconduct. Here young people received temporary accommodation after being apprehended until their cases before the Children’s Court were completed. Cases of juveniles brought to the shelter were heard within two sitting days. Following this hearing the young person was assessed by clinical examination and observation over several weeks. At a subsequent court hearing reports of the examinations were tabled and the magistrate determined where the child would be sent to serve the sentence. (3)

Minda opened on 6 May 1966. The complex included a Children’s Court, a Child Guidance Clinic, and a hospital where girls with venereal disease remained until their treatment was complete. (4) The purpose-built establishment occupied a site of eight and a half acres beside the Lidcombe State Hospital on Rookwood Road. The male accommodation block, which housed about 60 boys, and the female quarters, built for approximately 30 girls, were separated by large courtyards. The age range of those assessed at Minda was between 8 and 18. The average stay was about four weeks. (5) The premises were protected by high security and there was an emphasis on discipline. (6)

When Taldree, located on part of the former site of Parramatta Training School for Girls, opened as a remand centre for 30 junior boys, on 10 December 1974, the role of Minda was altered to provide facilities for boys ages 18 to 20 on remand. These boys had previously been assigned to the Metropolitan Boys’ Shelter in Albion Street, Surry Hills. (7) In 1990 the Children’s Court was removed from the Unit. (8) In 1991 (1 July, 1991?) Minda became a Juvenile Justice Detention Centre taking responsibility for 60 males on remand from various places in New South Wales. These were generally the younger, more difficult boys, whose average age was 15. The educational needs of the boys were met by school classes, a combination of school and vocational training, or through work party experience. (9)

Minda Juvenile Justice Centre closed prior to 16 May 2003 as the land was compulsorily acquired by the Minister for Public Works and Services. (10) The site of both Minda and Minali was then reused for the Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre. (11)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette, 25 March 1966, p.1296.
2. Boyle, B The Child Welfare Schools, p.464.
3. Child Welfare Department Report for the year ending 30 June 1953 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 2nd session 1953 vol. ,p.417.
4. Department of Child Welfare Report for the year ending 30 June 1967 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 4th session 1967-68, p.275.
5. Boyle, B op. cit., p.464.
6. Ibid., pp. 465-471.
7. Department of Youth and Community Services Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 1974 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1974-75 vol. 5 p.653.
8. Boyle, B op. cit., p.471.
9. Ibid, pp. 471-473.
10. NSW Government Gazette No.85, 16 May 2003, p.4803.
11. Department of Juvenile Justice, DDJ E-Bulletin, 1 August 2005, pp.1-2.

REFERENCES:
Concise Guide 2nd edition 1992 Sur-Y "Youth and Community Services"