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Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.18 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemOddments [Folder 2] – Mental Health Act (1959) | Mental health aspects of public health (Stoller) | Child rearing – the ABCs of guiding the child ((Dreikurs) | Aradale [Mental Hospital] newssheet | The mental health of the pre-school child | The role of the family physician in the care of the mentally retarded child | Planning for the trainable child in the classroom day by day | Research trends in mental deficiency | Trends and issues in mental retardation (White House Conference, 1960) | Rights of the Mentally Retarded Persons (United Nations) | A study of congenital mental malformations (Pitt) | Confidentiality | Patients preschool development | Kildonan Homes for Children | Some pointers for professionals | [Journals] – Australian Children Limited | Mental Health Services (1967) | Australian Journal of Mental Retardation (1970) | Mental Health Services Review (1967) [photocopy] | Visitors to Allambie | Introduction to Allambie | Universal Declaration of Human Rights | Urban poverty (1969) | The transition from institution to community living (Normalisation) (Fran B) | The unique value of the person | Day facilities for the intellectually handicapped in Victoria department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.19 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemLectures – Child care course (1957) | Certificate of Mental Deficiency Nursing [Complete set of lectures 1-10) | Syllabus for Mental Deficiency Nursing | The training of intellectually handicapped in Victoria (Lecture given at Uni Melb, 1961) | Mental Health Visitors Training Course (1965-6) | The training of specialists in mental deficiency | Role of the social worker in mental deficiency | Occupational therapy in mental deficiency | Art education for slow learners (1954) | Human Relations course (Police Dept.) | The ABCs of guiding the child (Rudolf Dreikurs, 1962) | Training of Cottage parents and staff for small group home | The Nurse in Home Training programs | Welfare workers course – Poverty and retardationdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.20 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemRetarded children [Folder 1/3] – Australian Council for the Mentally Handicapped (Conference, 1965) | Directory of facilities for the mentally handicapped in Victoria | The mentally retarded: community provision and professional responsibilities | Adjustments and process | Magazines - Australian Children Limited; The Australian Journal of Mental Retardation; How retarded children can be helped; The severely retarded child goes to school; The Australian Citizen Limited; The intellectually handicapped child (1967) | A survey of mongolism and congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system in Victoria | Deciding what’s best for your retarded child | Rehabilitation for the adult retardate | The mongoloid baby | Submission for funding to provide temporary and emergency care for intellectually retarded children | What will happen to my child? | Handicapped children (Commonwealth Assistance Scheme, 1970) | Normalization | Art project for the mentally retarded | A study of mongoloid children at home (Higgins & Pitt) | Submission to the Premier’s Committee into Mental Retardation | Submission to the Victorian Committee into Mental Retardation | Community services for mentally retarded in South Australia.department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.21 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemRetarded children [Folder 2/3] – A day centre for mentally retarded | Mental deficiency services in Australia | Australian Children Ltd [magazine] | Magazines - Mental retardation; The sub-normal children’s welfare association; A career for John; Your Down Syndrome Child; A.D.M.I. | Percy Report – Community Attitude to mental retardation | Changed concepts in recreation for the handicapped (Keith Cathcart) | The management of the intellectually handicapped (Brady) | Changes in community attitude (Cathcart) | The Beattie Smith Lectures | A life table for mongols in Victoria | Notes on the aetiology of mongolism | Mongolism – the modern management | Care and disposal of mongoloid defectives | A survey of mongoloid births in Victoria 1942-1957 | Various articles/talks – Nursing of the intellectually handicapped; Children’s Cottages: Psychologist’s office; Day facilities | Hope for retarded children (Eunice Kennedy Shriver)department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.22 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemRetarded children [Folder 3/3] – Normalization and retarded children | A Bill of Rights for the retarded (Hungerford) | Supported services for parents of handicapped children | The child who is different [magazine] | Survey (Victoria, 1966) | Investigation (Stoller) | Community care | Pegasus [magazine/leaflet] | Newsletters: Working Party on services to mentally retarded people and their families | The situation in New York Statedepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.23 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemFamily – Emotional growth in the first year | The impact of the handicapped child on the family | The family and the mentally retarded child (1981) | The mentally handicapped and their families (1977) | The present-day Australian family (Ashburner, 1956) | The first twenty-four months | The family and the young handicapped child (1977)department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.24 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemGeneral social work – Role of the psychiatric social worker | Social work practices | Social work and social action | Meeting of Departmental social workers working in the field of intellectual handicap | Submission for domiciliary services | White House Conference on children and youth (1960) | Talks | Role of the social worker in Institution for intellectually handicapped children (1953) | Conferences | Job description | Social workers and bureaucracy | Community organisation of social planning | Social work school planning in Illinois | Visits of observation – writing reports | Psychotherapeutic drugs – a guide for social workers | Visiting services – social work | General social work items | [AASW + notes (handwritten)]department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.25 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemKew Cottages Parents’ Association {Folder 2/2] – Training centre child adoption scheme | KCPA Constitution etc.department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.26 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > Item[Half torn pages and single pages – Incomplete writing | Interesting bits and pieces]department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.28 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemReports – Mental Hygiene Authority (1953, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1961) | Mental Health Authority (1963, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1976) | Kew Mental Hospitaldepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.29 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemKew Cottages – Letter re Kew Cottages Parents’ Association | State rethinks plans for the disabled (Newspaper clipping, 1987)department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (sub-series) - Irena Higgins : Fol.30 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemUniversity of Melbourne (Department of Pathology) – Hysteria; The significance of Piaget for child psychiatry | University of Illinois – Psychological development (1966) | Canadian Institute – Experiments in mental hospital organization (1958)department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.31 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health – Training sessions | Occupational therapydepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.32 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health – Psychosis | Schizophrenia and childhood | Testing (and telling people results) | International classification of mental disorders | State schools for the mentally retardeddepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.33 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health – Disfunctional parenting | Relatives | Psychosis in parenting | Infantile autism | Serious mental illness in children | The psychotic child | Schizophrenic syndrome in childhooddepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.34 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health - [includes Ethnic Community Council] – Migrants and mental healthdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.35 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health – Social workers: functions | Psychologists | Psychiatric treatment team | Nurse-patient relationships | Student nurse in a mental hospital | Role change and adjustment in mental hospitals | Social work in a psychiatric settingdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.36 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemMental Health – Dementia | Carnsworth – Garoopna | Mental health problems with ageingdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.37 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemVolunteering – Article by a volunteer | Blind | Kew Cottages-Janefield | Conference (1979) | AASW Conference | Mental health – Intellectual disability | Geelong | Training programs | Kew Cottages-Janefield-Sunbury | Visiting services auxiliaries | lecture by Dr Brady | Discussion document from University of Melbourne department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.38 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemLetters – [often including names and addresses] – Letters from volunteers | Letters from children at Kew Cottages | Letters to and from social worker (Irena Higgins) re work issuesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.1 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemKew Cottages: Introduction | Mental Retardation in Victoria: an historical perspective (1963) | Chronology of Kew Cottages | Kew Cottages Children's Training Centre | Work Evaluation Sheet for training purposes | History of Kew Cottages 1871-1986 | Kew Children's Cottages [booklet] | Social Work Department [including history of Children's Cottages] | Organising Playground Activities [letters] | Map of Kew Cottages | Role of the Social Worker [notes] | Notes for Student Groups (1968) [incl. reel-to-reel inside] | Annual Report for 1967 | Play Centre [letter] | Writing re Training of Children | Admission Procedure | 'Residential Care of the Retarded" (Seminar 1974) | Report on the Children's Cottages (1979) | Kew Cottages 1887-1987 Centenary Xmas Cardsdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.3 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemSundry items: Sexuality and the law in Australia (People with an intellectual disability) | About your child who is Mongoloid (PH) | A study of Mongoloid Children (IH & PH) | A study of children with Mongolism need in the home compared to those reared away from the home | The intellectually handicapped child | Social history proforma | Intellectually handicapped children - education & training | Community Services and unmet community needs - a well rounded program for the retarded | Australia Citizen Ltd (magazine re mental retardation) | Aspects of rehabilitation 1964 (occupational therapy) | Need for a special unit for the assessment and treatment of intellectually disabled | Adolescents with social and or psychiatric problems | Training and recreational (activities of residents at Strathmont Centre) | The need of additional community facilities for intellectually handicapped children | Report - 1966? | The handicap of cerebral palsy.department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (collection) - Irena Higgins : Fol.4 Disability & Mental Health, 1951-2008
Irena Higgins (1951-2014) > Barbara Higgins (2015) > Kew Historical Society (2015)Professional papersCollection > Series > Sub-series (folder) > ItemWaiting Lists - Correspondence, referrals, reports at Cottages and Sunbury | Letter to Dr Brady | Letter from Dr Dax to Irena Higgins | Referrals | Waiting lists | Letter re centre in Colac | Interim Report on the Analysis of the waiting list for residential training centres of the Victorian Mental Health Authority | Some action taken | Sunbury waiting lists.department of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential servicesdepartment of health (vic.), mental hygiene authority (vic.), mental health authority (vic.), health commission of victoria, community services victoria, department of health and community services, department of human services, kew cottages, kew children’s cottages, kew training centre, kew residential services -
Vision Australia
Photograph - Image, David Blyth packing cans, 1958
David Blyth, worker at the RVIB Factory, stacking cans The picture dates to about 1958 when we were packing emergency supplies for the Army. The pack were rations which were dropped by aircraft to troops in the field. 1 B/W image of man removing cans from rows and placing into cartonroyal victorian institute for the blind, david blyth -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Irena Higgins, 1950s
Born in Poland in 1914, Irena Higgins completed her degree in social work at the University of Lwow [Lvov]. Migrating to Australia in 1938, she lived in various places including in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney before moving with her family to Melbourne in 1945. She initially worked at the Victorian Society for Crippled Children. Then in 1952, Irena was employed as a social worker by the Mental Hygiene Division of the Health Commission at Kew Mental Hospital (which included children). She was the first social worker employed by the Victorian Mental Health Authority to work with children with an intellectual disability. She remained at Kew for seventeen years, becoming Senior Social Worker with a staff of three other social workers, a secretary and a number of aides. Two of Irena’s significant innovations at Kew were the establishment of a Parents’ Association, and the development of a network of volunteers trained to work with families in the community. Irena Higgins remained committed to social reform following her retirement in 1984, working actively to establish the first emergency housing in Kew. In 2015, Irena’s daughter Barbara Higgins, and friend Elizabeth Watts, donated a number of her papers to the Kew Historical Society. These documents constitute the Irena Higgins Collection.Black and white photograph of Irena Higgins, donated by her daughter as part of the Irena Higgins Collection.irena higgins, kew mental hospital - willsmere, children's cottages (kew)