Intellectually Retarded Services (GA155)

Intellectually Retarded Services was established in 1964 as a part of the Mental Health Services, a division of the Hospitals Department (1). It was set up to provide referral and support services and to develop training programmes for intellectually disabled persons living in the community. At the same time the Mental Health Act was amended to allow for the provision of hospital training centres, specifically for the intellectually retarded as separate institutions (2). Up to this time the institutions provided for the intellectually retarded were those which cared for the mentally ill (eg Hillcrest and Parkside Hospitals).

The first Assistant-Director of IRS was Dr John Covernton, to be succeeded by Dr Norma Kent.

In 1964 the IRS opened a Diagnostic and Assessment Clinic at Eastwood Terrace; this was later moved, first to Prospect House, Fitzroy and then to Ormond House, Toorak Gardens.

In March 1971 the IRS established the Strathmont Centre as a training centre for intellectually retarded patients. Designed along the lines of a self-contained village, the Centre aimed 'to enable each resident to develop his or her full potential' (3). It sought to achieve this by means of Industrial therapy programmes, special schools (run by the Guidance and Special Education Board of the Education Department), special purpose training and activity centred programmes. An occupational therapy centre was later opened at the Centre (4).

In 1979 Estcourt House was acquired by IRS to provide additional residential accommodation for mentally handicapped persons.

Following the reports of two enquiries - the Committee of Enquiry into the Rights of the Intellectually Handicapped and the Intellectually Retarded Persons Project - the IRS was absorbed into the Intellectually Disabled Services Council created in July 1982 as an incorporated body within the SA Health Commission (5)

References:

1) SA Parliamentary Paper, no. 21 of 1967, p. 8.
2) ibid., p. 9.
3) GRG 146/3.
4) SA Parliamentary Paper, no. 21 of 1979, p. 7.
5) Office of the Minister of Health, News Release, 5 April 1982.