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Westcare Incorporated
is a non profit organisation that stands for WEST Australian, Care, Accommodation, Rehabilitation and Employment for people with a disability.		 Westcare Print
is a division of Westcare Industries and provides work for people with a disability.		 Westcare Safety
is an Australian safety industry leader in manufacturing of a wide range of high visibility safety garments.		 Westcare Box
prides itself on the ability to custom design packaging to your needs.		 Westcare Industrial Packaging
is a hands-on service providing solutions to those jobs where machinery or automation is inappropriate, costly or unavailable.		 Westcare Foodpak
is our latest business venture, and our mission is to become a premium supplier of services and packaging to the food industry.
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Supporting People with disabilities for over 60 years

Timeline

The following chronologically outlines the history of Westcare from its humble beginnings to present day success.

The First Decade 1940 -1950
The Second Decade 1950 - 1960
The Third Decade 1960 - 1970
The Fourth Decade 1971 - 1980
The Fifth Decade 1980 - the Present

The First Decade 1940 - 1950

1941
Western Australian Government appointed the first Director of Tuberculosis.

Wooroloo Colony Committee formed and quickly achieved its three aims:

Soon the Tuberculosis Association in Perth was created. The Association assisted in rehabilitating and monitoring the welfare of patients at Wooroloo Colony and also educating the public on the need for x-rays for early detection of tuberculosis.

1947
First Christmas Seals were printed and distributed in Western Australia.

1949
Wooroloo Colony Committee and the Tuberculosis Association amalgamated committee meetings becoming the Tuberculosis and Chest Association of Western Australia.

 

The Second Decade 1950 - 1960

1950
Registered factory, 'The Federal Cardboard Box Company Ltd' was purchased to function as a sheltered workshop.

1957
The workshop was transferred to a disused bakery in West Perth and printing was soon added as another service.

 

The Third Decade 1960 - 1970

During this period, business was consolidated and funds accumulated towards establishing a new building for the organisation.

 

The Fourth Decade 1971 - 1980

The present two-story workshop of Westcare Industries (formerly known as FCB Industries) at 75 Carrington Street, Nedlands was purchased.

1977
Plans and groundwork were made for construction of a 20 bed hostel in Lemnos Street, Shenton Park.

1978
The first stage, two bedrooms and a service block, was completed and able to accommodate 20 FCB Industry employees. Perth rehabilitation facilities were now open to country patients.

March 31, 1979
Sir Charles Court officially opened the now fully completed first stage of the Florence Hummerston Hostel, built at a cost of $500,000.

 

The Fifth Decade 1980 - Present

1983
Building Florence Hummerston Hostel stage 2 began. A further 10 bedrooms raised the hostels available accommodation to 30 bedrooms.

Subsequent years saw the addition to Westcare Services of:

1996
New factory, the Dr Alan King building, was opened in Bassendean to house our Box, Industrial Packaging and Safety Departments.

1997
Received Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) award for meeting the high level of Disability Services Standards.

November 2001
The Dr Alan King building extended with the opening of the Richard Howell Wing, comfortably accommodating 12 Westcare electronic employees.

May 2002
Governor Lieutenant General John Sanderson and Mrs Sanderson officially opened the Dr Grey Units, 10 self contained units built as an addition to Westcare's existing Shenton Park hostel complex.

The units were named after long serving member Dr Grey Edwards (1914 - 2000) in recognition of his great contribution. The opening marked the completion of the first phase of the hostels major upgrading scheme and work is now continuing on the second stage of the upgrade, providing tenants with private bathrooms and living rooms.

2004
The Governor, His Excellency Lieutenant General John Sanderson AC, officially opened the Dr Dick Porter units, 10 self contained units built as an addition to Westcare's existing Shenton Park village complex. The units were built as a joint venture with the Department of Housing and Works and were named after long service association member Dr Dick Porter in recognition of his great contributions. This day also marked the 25th anniversary of the Florence Hummerston Village.

November 8, 2004
Westcare appoints a new Chief Executive Officer, Peter Beaton.

2005
Formation of new Senior Managment Team, including a Human Resources Manager and Business Manager, to provide commercial focus.

June 2006
Westcare reports record sales and net contributions. Westcare also holds its inaugural Ambassador Luncheon at its headquarters in Nedlands. His Excellency, the Governor of Western Australia attends along with several significant Perth dignitaries. The purpose of the luncheon was to inform and engage Westcare's Ambassadors in its future activities and thank them for their support.

2007
Westcare installs new Computer to Plate technology and a new Heidelberg Printmaster 52 offset press, providing dividends in terms of efficiencies and time savings.

Westcare is also concerned that tuberculosis is on the rise again and we are actively campaigning for greater vigilance and action.

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