At the forefront of change

Through world wars, the Depression, infectious diseases and plagues and economic difficulties, The Home has twice come close to being closed but has survived and continued to grow and change as society and the needs of young children and families has continued to change.

In 1972, The Home was the first organisation in NSW to take up Commonwealth funding and provide Long Day Care for children from single parent families and then for children where both parents worked or studied. This was the first step in reducing The Home’s intake of children into residential care. Long Day Care provided a practical alternative, allowing family to stay together. The Infants’ Home was also the first local community organisation to pilot and offer Family Day Care in NSW.

Accommodation for mothers became one of the early refuges in the area and adoption and foster care programs were also offered. The Women and Children’s Stress Centre started in 1977 to support children and families at risk and the Cottage (now Sydney Hope Family Cottage) started in 1984 to support mothers with young babies.