Some Members of Forward Planning Group
CBERS Consultancy is an Edmund Rice Ministry operating from ERISJ in Fremantle. The service is coordinated by Dr Philippa White, and carries forward some of the roles formerly fulfilled by CBERSS (Christian Brothers Ex-Residents and Students Service) in Subiaco. The previous agency, set up by Dr Maria Harries in 1995 at the request of Br Gerry Faulkner, was designed to provide a broad range of services for men who previously lived at Homes run by the Christian Brothers in Western Australia. Counselling for ex-residents of Nazareth House and Sisters of Mercy Homes was introduced in 2000, and by 2005 CBERSS had provided over 500 men and women with services such as family tracing; travel funding for former child migrants; adult literacy programs; counselling; and no-interest loans.
CBERSS in Subiaco ceased operation in December 2005, after demand for services had dwindled and the child migrant travel fund had closed. Ways to meet the ongoing needs of the client group were identified during a lengthy planning and consultation process undertaken by a reference group of ex-residents, CBERSS management and staff, and members of the Christian Brothers WA/SA Province Leadership team.
In keeping with the planning group's recommendations, CBERS Consultancy commenced operation in January 2006, offering a two-day per week counselling and advocacy service in Fremantle, The new service was developed on a non-dependency model, and called for greater input from a network of ex-residents Key developments in the service are recorded in the CBERS Network, a biannual newsletter produced by CBERS and ex-residents representing Tardun, Bindoon, St Joseph's, Nazareth House, Castledare and Clontarf (
During the consultancy's first two years of operation a fairly consistent and relatively low demand for service was maintained, but in December 2007 the announcement of Redress WA led to a substantial increase in the number of people contacting CBERS. The redress scheme was set up by the State Government to provide acknowledgment, apology and a financial payment to adults who experienced childhood abuse and neglect
