Therapeutic Adolescent Residential Assessment Unit (TARA)

DESCRIPTION

Name Therapeutic Adolescent Residential Assessment Unit (TARA)DescriptionThe Townsville Orphanage was established on 30th August 1878 by order of the Executive Council to provide care, management and control of orphaned, neglected, abandoned and convicted children and their property. The Queensland Government assumed control with the passing of the Orphanages Act 1879. A matron was given the responsibility for running the orphanage with the assistance of a housemaid and a cook.

Under The Orphanages Act of 1879, orphanages were charged with the care, teaching and training of children whose circumstances included death of one or both parents, desertion by parents, or neglect. The Act also provided for the boarding-out, hiring-out and apprenticing of orphanage children.

The Townsville Orphanage closed as an orphanage in 1934 (circa year), but the re-named Townsville Receiving Depot continued its role of reception, care and boarding out of children to foster homes. In accordance with the policy to remove any stigma that may come on children placed in the care of the department, the Townsville Receiving Depot was renamed as "Carramar" in 1964.

A therapeutic intervention model was adopted whereby Carramar provided transitional arrangements until June 1995 (circa month), when it ceased operating as a departmental institution.

30 August 1878 : Townsville Orphanage
1934 : Townsville Receiving Depot
December 1964 : Carramar Children’s Home
1967 : Carramar Receiving and Assessment Centre
1995 : Therapeutic Intervention (Transitional arrangements until TARA programs commenced).
1995 – 11 May 2001 : Therapeutic Adolescent Residential Assessment Unit (TARA)
Geolocation^[1]SuburbNorth WardAddress42,Warbuton Street,North Ward,4810

Organisation