Winlaton Youth Training Centre
Winlaton was a former government-run remand and youth training centre, situated in Nunawading, Victoria. It was opened in 1956 and was relocated in 1993 and became the Parkville Youth Residential Centre. In short, Winlaton was a correctional home for Wards of the State of Victoria who were on many occasions placed there after running away from other government-run institutions. The institution could accommodate 95 adolescent girls in three variable security accommodation areas which included the following:
Warrina, Karingal and Goonyah (cottages) - Warrina was used as an assessment centre to determine where girls could be placed at for the remainder of their sentence; Karingal which housed more younger and tractable girls who had continuing behavioural problems or who had previously had unsuccessful community placements; and, Goonyah which used to house more older and difficult girls who had been sentenced or were awaiting a court appearance;
Leawarra - open hostel section consisting of seventeen individual bedrooms for girls who were employed but where still deemed to require some level of supervised care; and
Winbirra - a self-contained high security remand section consisting of twelve bedrooms.
In 2015, the Royal Commission heard from former residents of Winlaton and found that not just sexual and physical abuse had been prevalent during the Centre’s operation, but also other forms of abuse which were degrading, inhumane and unnecessary such as being repeatedly and forcibly injected with powerful tranquilisers, humiliating sanitary care (the demonstration of used sanitary pads by girls to administration before they could be issued with a new, clean sanitary pad) solitary confinement, questionable internal medical examinations and strip searches.
Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients against the State of Victoria who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse whilst they were placed within a government-run institution in Victoria.
We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.
Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.