VPRS 18207 Register of Male Wards admitted to Turana / Baltara Reception Centre (Children's Court Advisory Service)

Full description

This series comprises a register of male wards, 10 to 14 years of age, admitted to the Turana Reception Centre (1964 to October 1968) and the Baltara Reception Centre (October 1968 - 1989).

The volume was compiled by the Children's Court Advisory Service which was part of the Social Welfare Branch of the Chief Secretary's Department (and its successor agencies), to provide advice to Courts and assist them in determining the most appropriate dispositions regarding young people brought before them.

This service operated primarily to assist the various Melbourne Children's Courts and provide reports in relation to the following case matters:

- Irreconcilable Differences applications
- pre-sentence reports
- parole plans
- verbal reports
- a liaison function in respect of children from country Regions remanded to Turana.

The register entries change partway through the first volume in October 1968, when a new upgraded Family Welfare Division Reception Centre which opened on the same site at Turana, and was renamed the Baltara Reception Centre.

Each of the three books record the same basic information:

- Sequential Number for each calendar year (thus allowing for an easy annual count of admissions)
- Date of Birth
- Full Name
- Date of Arrival
- Date of Departure
- Court & Date
- Result (Court Decision)
- Bail Result
- Reason for Reception
- Placement (whether home release, not returned, or to another facility).