Springvale’s Health Services Precinct

The Springvale Health Services Precinct sign has been installed as part of the Enterprise Trail. It acknowledges how the Australian Government planned and delivered comprehensive services for newly arrived migrants and refugees at the Enterprise Migrant Hostel to address their health needs and assist their settlement in Australia from 1970-1992.

The Hostel accommodated 1000 people at any one time. When people arrived at the Enterprise Migrant Hostel they received a complete health check including chest X-rays. Staff from Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, later Heatherton Infectious Diseases Hospital, regularly visited Enterprise. 

A medical doctor and nurse provided services to everyone over the age of six. Maternal and child health professionals provided support for mothers and their babies and ensured that they were introduced to local services when they left Enterprise. They also supported the young mothers by running sessions on child development, family planning, safety and breast feeding. Some mothers required encouragement to breast feed their babies because they believed their milk would be bad for the babies because of poor nutrition in the refugee camps.

In some cases health responses were initiated while people were flying to Australia – upon their arrival very sick migrants were accompanied directly to the hostel where a doctor was waiting. 
Some of the residents came as children without their parents. They were looked after by a House Mother at Enterprise, who also accompanied them to their medical appointments. Several children with hearing problems were treated at the Queen Victoria Hospital. 

Many women were pregnant when they arrived at The Enterprise Hostel, including seven mothers in the first group of residents to arrive from East Timor. They all gave birth at the Box Hill Hospital. From 1984 additional services were available from the newly established Springvale Community Health Service. The Enterprise Hostel was a place where both government and the community developed new ways to make migrants and refugees feel at home – ways that valued cultural diversity. 

The Enterprise Migrant Hostel Springvale is testament to how innovative thinking, positive attitudes and a warm welcome can build a strong, cohesive and vibrant community. 

“I am very grateful for the love and support I received from the nurses, the doctors and the social works” – African refugee woman who suffered many health problems. 

“We are grateful to all these people who helped us in one way or another” – Mother whose child received an immediate response to a health problem. 

“The Australian Government was humane. They provided food, entertainment and a nurse” – Cambodian refugee. 

Learn more about the Spirit of Enterprise project by walking the Spirit of Enterprise Trail and watching the video here.