Distributed to nurses who took part in campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, particularly those involved in the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. In October 1986, Victorian nurses began their longest strike after the failure of repeated talks with the health minister David White who was committed to reducing the classification and pay of almost half of Victoria’s nurses. Skeleton staff were left in the wards while picket lines, tents and caravans were set up outside hospitals in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. After 50 days of industrial action, Victorian nurses voted to return to work on 20 December 1986. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, and the strike concluded in December 1986, suggesting this badge was produced sometime between 1987 and 1989.Circular red and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'I FOUGHT NURSES STRIKE 1986' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victorian] Branch'.nursing, nurses, industrial action, strike action, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, campaigning, 1986 victorian nurses strike, trade unions, labour history, royal australian nursing federation

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, possibly during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. In October 1986, Victorian nurses began their longest strike after the failure of repeated talks with the health minister David White who was committed to reducing the classification and pay of almost half of Victoria’s nurses. Skeleton staff were left in the wards while picket lines, tents and caravans were set up outside hospitals in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. After 50 days of industrial action, Victorian nurses voted to return to work on 20 December 1986. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the late 1980s. Similar to the badges worn in this photo [https://stories.anmfvic.asn.au/86strike/media/2560-1440-landscape-sec2-contentb-hr_logwf7a.jpg] from 1986 (see individual on the far right).This badge is of historic significance as it represents nurses' struggle for industrial and professional status. This struggle was made particularly visible through the 1986 Victorian nurses' strike, which had great impact on the way Australian society viewed nurses and working women (Bessant, 1992).Circular white and red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Nurses DO dare to Struggle' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victorian] Branch'.nursing, nurses, industrial action, strike action, unionism, trade unions, badges, buttons, pins, campaigning, 1986 victorian nurses strike, labour history, royal australian nursing federation, victoria, australia

Button to commemorate a membership of 47,000 nurses in the Victorian Branch of the Australian Nursing Federation. In the May 2009 issue of the Branch newsletter, On the Record, the milestone was noted in Lisa Fitzpatrick's 'Secretary's report' (p. 3). In a short paragraph, Fitzpatrick notes that "whilst it is wonderful to celebrate [reaching 47,000 members], ANF will continue to encourage those nurses who are not members to join their union and professional body to ensure that we continue to protect and enhance nursing and midwifery in Victoria". As of 2019, the Branch now has a membership of over 81,000.Circular blue, white and yellow plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Congratulations and thank you', '47,000 members 31.03.2009', 'Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch)' and logo, and [Victorian Branch Secretary] Lisa [Fitzpatrick, 2001-current] and [Federal Assistant Secretary] Yvonne [Chaperon, 2007-2014]'.nursing, workforce, nurses, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation, victoria, union membership

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for greater professional recognition of nurses since its inception as the Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association in 1901. The front cover of the July 2006 issue of the Victorian Branch newsletter 'On the Record' features a nurse wearing a sticker with a similar design as this badge, suggesting it was manufactured and distributed around this time.Circular blue, green and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Proud to be a NURSE' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.nursing, unionism, professional identity, nurses, lobbying, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as part of a campaign to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. This badge was accompanied by a booklet 'Nursing the system back to health : Nurse patient ratios 2001', published in April 2002. The booklet describes some of the rationale for minimum staffing ratios and developments in 2000-2001 regarding campaigning for ratios, particular the landmark decision of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in 2000 that saw the ANF securing the world's first mandated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. After decades of campaigning from the ANF/ANMF, ratios were legislated for the public sector in Victoria with the passing of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient) Bill in 2015. The web address on the badge was active from 1999 to 2004, and the shortcut 'anfvic.asn.au' was active from April 2001, suggesting this badge dates from 2001.Circular yellow, blue and white badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with a blue and white ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo, the text 'Nurses Nursing the system back to health' and the (then) website of the ANF (Victorian Branch), 'www.vicnet.net.au/~anfvb/'.nursing, ratios, workforce, staffing, nurses, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, campaigning, trade unions, labour history, safe patient care (nurse to patient and midwife to patient ratios) act 2015, australian nursing federation, victoria, enterprise bargaining

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. This particular badge is from a 2001 campaign in the lead up to a November 2001 Australian federal election. The campaign called on the government and opposition to make commitments to around aged care staffing and funding. Branch newsletters from late 2001 focused on aged care staff shortages & under-funding, with placards from rallies featuring slogans such as 'Aged care nurses. We care. Do you?' and 'Aged care. Who care? We care'. Therefore, it is believed that this badge was manufactured and distributed from August to December 2001.Circular orange and dark blue plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Aged Care. Who Cares? I care.' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. 'I Care.' is underlined.nursing, nurses, unionism, aged care, lobbying, 2001 federal election, funding, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, staffing, workforce, patient care

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members working in emergency departments. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular green and red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'EMERGENCY NURSES', 'Fighting For Your Life' and 'Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch'.nursing, emergency department, hospital, accident and emergency, nurses, emergency nurses, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, patient care, australian nursing federation, victoria

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members to promote safe movement of patients to reduce workplace injury. The Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch implemented the 'No Lifting' (now 'safe patient handling') policy in March 1998. The aim of the policy was to introduce in Victorian healthcare settings an approach to patient handling whereby the manual lifting of patients would be eliminated or minimised wherever possible. This Branch policy and strategies to implement it were a response to high incidence of back pain and workplace injury amongst nurses. The 'No Lifting' policy was accompanied by various conferences and expos to discuss harm minimisation strategies throughout 1998-2009, suggesting this badge is from this period.Circular red, black and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'I am a No Lifting Nurse', 'Caring for you' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.nurses, nursing, back injuries, occupational health and safety, patient handling, trade unions, professional bodies, workplace injury, accident prevention, badges, buttons, pins, changing healthcare practice, australian nursing federation

Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) badge promoting Enrolled Nurses (also known as Division 2 Nurses, ENs). ENs are registered health practitioners who have completed, at a minimum, a diploma qualification in order to practice. ENs typically work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse to provide support and care for patients in a range of healthcare settings. This badge was possibly distributed to ANF EN members attending the 1999 Annual ANF Division 2 Conference that focused on pathways to the future for this group of nurses. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, further suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular green and purple badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Button printed with 'A.N.F. [Australian Nursing Federation] securing a future for Enrolled Nurses'.nursing, enrolled nurses, division 2 nurses, nurses, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, patient care, australian nursing federation, victoria

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members working as school nurses, and possibly distributed to members of the public. The ANF Victorian Branch bargains on behalf of nurses working in primary and secondary schools, particularly those employed by the Victorian Department of Education and Training, as well as those working in Catholic and independent schools. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular red, black and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Save Our School Nurse' and ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. The first characters of 'Save Our School' are italicised to highlight the acronym 'SOS'.nursing, school nurses, school nursing, victorian school nurses, nurses, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, professional associations, australian nursing federation, victoria

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members during the bargaining process for Victorian nurses' wages and conditions in 2007. Enterprise bargaining is the process of negotiation generally between the employer and employees (often represented by a trade union, professional association or other bargaining representative) with the goal of making an enterprise agreement stipulating the wages and conditions of work. The 2007 public sector campaign entitled 'Fund nursing properly for a better state of health' involved the ANF bargaining for members employed in the public acute and aged care sector, public psychiatric services, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and the Royal District Nursing Service. The 2007 campaign focused on improved workloads and skill mix and a minimum 18 per cent wage increase to address the wage disparity between Victorian nurses and nurses working in other Australian states.Circular red, white and blue plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'FUND NURSING PROPERLY FOR A BETTER STATE OF HEALTH', 'EBA 07' [enterprise bargaining agreement 2007] and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] website address of the time (www.anfvic.asn.au).nursing, nurses, unionism, trade unions, enterprise bargaining, badges, buttons, pins, staffing, wages, workforce, labour history, australian nursing federation, victoria, campaigning

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. Aged care campaigning became particularly prominent in the late 1990s and 2000s, with large campaigns by both the national and state/territory branches of the ANF. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular blue, green and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Quality Aged Care needs Qualified Nurses' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. 'needs' is italicised and 'Qualified Nurses' is underlined.nursing, nurses, unionism, aged care, lobbying, funding, badges, buttons, pins, staffing, trade unions, labour history, workforce, patient care, australian nursing federation, victoria

Badge campaigning against the Victorian Liberal government's widespread privatisation of the public health service (and other public services) in the 1990s, which resulted in job cuts and site closures throughout the state. The Australian Nursing Federation, the union representing nurses in Victoria, was a strong opponent of these cuts and closures, that resulted in pressure applied on an already overstretched and poorly resourced group of workers. "In a context of high unemployment and an ideological commitment to small government, there were widespread job losses and people affixed stickers to their cars saying 'I've been Jeffed', i.e. made redundant. The cuts were not confined to government employees and many staff of private enterprises also lost their jobs. This was the era of the 'consulting poor' as professional staff struggled to make a living as independent consultants, rather than employees. They were well paid for short term contracts, but continuity of work was hard to find." (Sally Wilde, 'The History of Prahran 1990-1994', 2000)Circular blue, red and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'I've been 'Jeffed' and I'm paying the Penalty!' and 'ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] VIC. [Victorian] BRANCH'. 'Jeffed' refers to the then Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett (1992-1999).nursing, nurses, victoria, jeff kennett, 1990s, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, protest, rationalisation, australia, politics, privatisation, australian nursing federation

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as part of a 2006 campaign protesting the controversial 'WorkChoices' federal industrial relations laws that were introduced by the Liberal John Howard government in 2005-2007. These laws saw the weakening of unfair dismissal laws, giving employers significantly more powers to strip existing rights and wages away. The laws were repealed following the election of an opposition Labor government in 2007 under Kevin Rudd. The 'Howard Target Nurses' campaign was featured in ANF Victorian Branch newsletters around late 2006. During this period, a number of enterprising bargaining agreements were set to soon expire, leaving nurses vulnerable to have rights stripped away under the new IR legislation. A large campaign began, with rallies across the state of Victoria. The August 2006 Branch newsletter featured images of the Tandberg 'Howard targets nurses' design on placards, shirts and badges worn by nurses at these rallies. The illustration by The Age cartoonist Ron Tandberg made reference to John Howard's involvement in wars in the Middle East throughout the early 2000s, and linked this to the 'war' on unions and worker rights.Circular yellow, red and white badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with a blue and white ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo, the black text '[then-Prime Minister John] Howard targets nurses' and a Ron Tandberg cartoon of a nurse with a 'sniper target' overlay.nursing, nurses, protest, campaign, activism, activists, unions, unionism, buttons, badges, pins, campaigning, john howard, ron tandberg, labour history, australian nursing federation, workchoices, workplace relations, industrial relations

Button worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as an ongoing campaign in the 1990s to 2000s to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. 'no more than 1 to 4' denotes a ratio of one nurse to a maximum of four patients. During this period, staffing ratios were secured as part of bargaining negotiations between unions and employer groups. After decades of campaigning from the ANF/ANMF, ratios were legislated for the public sector in Victoria with the passing of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient) Bill in 2015.Circular black and yellow badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'no more than 1 to 4'.nursing, nurses, ratios, workforce, staffing, badges, buttons, pins, campaigning, safe patient care (nurse to patient and midwife to patient ratios) act 2015, victoria

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation members campaigning against changes to nurses awards. The minimum wages and conditions an employee is entitled to are set out in awards (also known as modern awards). Awards don’t apply when an employer has an enterprise agreement or other registered agreement and the employee is covered by it. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular white and blue plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'hands off nurses' awards!' and 'AUSTRALIAN NURSING FEDERATION'.nurses, nursing, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation, wages, working conditions, employment

Button worn and distributed to staff and interested parties as part of a campaign that supported maintaining bachelor of nursing and midwivery programs in the university system. In late 2007-2008, regulatory authorities in Victoria were considering the possibility of education providers from the Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector (e.g. TAFEs and RTOs) receiving accreditation to offer bachelor-level nursing and midwifery qualifications. The Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch), the peak industrial and professional body for Victorian nurses and midwives, resisted these moves, arguing that the approval of VET providers to offer Bachelor programs would have an adverse impact on the supply of registered nurses into the Victorian health workforce. Completion of a bachelor of nursing or midwifery remains a precondition of practising as a registered ('division 1') nurse or midwife in Australia.Circular blue and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with the white text 'University education for all Div[ision] 1 RNs [Registered Nurses] and [Registered Midwives]' and a small black and white image of a square academic/trencher cap.nurses, nursing, badges, education, training, qualifications, university, australian nursing federation, workforce, midwives, midwifery, undergraduate, registered nurse, registered midwife, buttons, pins

Circular blue, red and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with gold text 'Hurting nurses hurts patients' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.

Circular black and green plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Button printed with the green text 'HANDS OFF MEDICARE'.medicare, politics, protest, public protest, political protest, government funding, universal health care, badges, buttons, pins

Circular white and red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Button printed with the hand-drawn red text 'SAVE OUR HOSPITAL' and an image of a bandaged patient in tears.politics, protest, public protest, hospitals, public institutions, politics, political protest, campaigning, badges, buttons, pins

nurses, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation, staffing, workforce, patient careCircular red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'UNSHACKLE MENTAL HEALTH', the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo and an image of broken chains and shackles.nurses, mental health, nursing, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation, funding

Fairfield Hospital opened in 1904 as the Queen's Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital, the first purpose-built isolation hospital for infectious diseases in Victoria. Its 22-acre site was located on a bank of the Yarra River. It was renamed Fairfield Hospital in 1948. In its later years, the hospital was a centre for AIDS treatment in Victoria, and a passionate campaign fought against its planned closure in the 1990s. Fairfield Hospital finally closed in June 1996. One section of the site was gazetted as a Public Park and Memorial Garden (containing an AIDS Garden).Circular white and red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with the red text 'SAVE FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL'. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back.medicine, health, public institutions, fairfield, victoria, city of darebin, melbourne, politics, political protest, public protest, campaigning, badges, buttons, pins, public health, infectious diseases, aids

Circular red plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with white text 'Ask me! I'm a Nurse'.nursing, nurses, badges, buttons, pins, advocacy

Circular yellow and blue badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with a blue ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo, the blue text 'International Nurses Day', '12 May 2002', and 'Celebrating Nursing'.nursing, nurses, international nurses day, 12 may 2002, badges, buttons, pins, celebration, australian nursing federation, victoria

Circular yellow and blue plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with text 'I'm losing patient with industrial changes' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.

Circular white and orange plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge bordered with blue text 'ENROLLED NURSES & THE AUSTRALIAN NURSING FEDERATION VICTORIAN BRANCH' and the italicised, centred text 'The Future is in our Hands'.nursing, nurses, enrolled nurses, division 2 nurses, nursing workforce, workforce, badges, buttons, pins, ens, trade unions, labour history, australian nursing federation, victoria

Wooden pattern used to make impression in sand to form mold for casting hot metal. These patterns were for the caps for bearing covers.Wood, with an oval footprint. Pins underneath with covered channel across oval, cylindrical cap mounted on top of channel, semi-circular (approx) flanges either side of channel cover.

metal badgesRSL

Historical information Sarah Coventry Pty. Ltd. was a North American jewellery company that was established in 1949 by the Stuart family as part of Emmons Jewelry, Inc. It began operations in England and Australia in 1968, and in Australia it moved from Carlton in Melbourne to Wodonga in 1969. The premises were originally on High St. in Wodonga, but a new warehouse was built in Melbourne Rd. later in 1969. It was a direct selling jewellery business using a party-plan model similar to Tupperware and Avon. The sales reps or 'Hostesses' were provided with jewellery samples in demonstration kits, which they displayed at jewellery parties in their homes. The designs for jewellery such as brooches, necklaces, earrings, chokers and bracelets were purchased from freelance designers and jewellery manufacturers rather than in-house designers. In 1979 Sarah Coventry Pty. Ltd. in Wodonga was bought by three Australian businessmen, including Wodonga local Jim Sawyer, and continued to sell jewellery under the name "Sargem Pty. Ltd”, for several more years in the 1980s. The "Aristocrat" line was first released in Canada in 1969 for several years. It was distributed from the outlet at Sarah Coventry Park, Wodonga.As part of the Sarah Coventry collection, the tie pin has local significance with the decentralised commercial development of regional centres such as Wodonga in NE Victoria, as well as national and international significance from the perspective of social and economic developments for women after World War II. The direct selling party-plan business model Sarah Coventry was based on is also considered the first of its kind for jewellery.A small square tie pin of silvertone plated metal with an ice blue rhinestone in the centre. A short chain and clip are attached. A small diamond shape has the "SarCov" brand on the back. The pin is in its original packaging of a cardboard box with clear central oval on the front. The back of the box bears the Sarah Coventry branding as does the internal card.On internal mounting card: "Made in Canada/ Sarah Coventry Pty. Ltd / WODONGA (SC) VICTORIA" On back of box: "Sarah Coventry® PTY. LTD / SARAH COVENTRY PARK/ WODONGA, VICTORIA / PTD IN AUST"sarah coventry wodonga, men's fashion accessories, costume jewellery

A wide range of items have been created as souvenirs to represent the Hume Weir on the Murray River. Work on Hume Dam started in 1919 and took 17 years to complete. Souvenir items have included chinaware, ashtrays, placemats and small jewellery items such as this tie pin. This tie pin was created as a souvenir for the town of Tallangatta. In the 1950s, the height of the Hume Weir wall was increased, resulting in a nine metre rise in the level of the water in Lake Hume. This necessitated the moving of most of the town of Old Tallangatta due to flooding. The transfer of the township by the State Rivers and Waters Supply Commission to a new site approximately 8 kilometres to the west was completed on 29 June 1956.This item is representative of many items commemorating the Hume Weir and the township of Tallangatta.A small metal and enamelled oval tie pin. It features and image of the Hume Weir.Around top edge in white: TALLANGATTA Around bottom edge" HUME WEIR"hume weir australia, tallangatta, tallangatta - the town that moved