The photograph is taken in the RDNS Education Department at 448 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. Mrs. Gerardi and Mr. J. Psaros are Telephone interpreters. Sr. E. Comb is learning, by role play, how best to communicate with people who have limited understanding of English. The other Sisters are observing the role play. One Sister is wearing the RDNS winter uniform of a dark blue cardigan over a light blue/grey skivvie and V neck tunic style frock made of blue/grey herringbone winter material. Sr. Perillo is wearing the RDNS summer uniform of a short sleeve white blouse under a royal blue V neck tunic style frock. The RDNS logo is seen on the upper left of the frock. The other uniforms are a royal blue dress with white piping around collars.The Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), later known as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), visited patients in their home and gave best practice care in many fields of nursing, and to people of many cultures, throughout its 130 years of expansion. Initial visits not only assessed the specific nursing situation but the situation as a whole. The RDNS Trained nurses (Sisters) visited patients from many different cultural backgrounds, and Education was given to their Sisters to assist them when speaking with the patients and giving them care. Their patients ranged in age from babes, children, adults to the elderly and referrals were taken from Hospitals, General Practitioners and allied Health facilities. Some of the care the Sisters provided is as follows: – Post-Natal care given to mother and babe, Wound Care following various types of surgery, accidents, burns, cancer, leg ulcers etc. Supervising and teaching Diabetic Care, including teaching and supervising people with Diabetes to administer their own Insulin, and administering Insulin to those unable to give their own injections. Administering other injections and setting up weekly medication boxes. The Sisters performed Catheterizations on adults suffering from conditions such as Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Guillan-Barre Syndrome, and when required at school on children for e.g. those with Spina Bifida. The Sisters visited those requiring Cystic Fibrosis support and care; those requiring Haemo-Oncology care, including visiting children at school; those requiring Home Enteral Feeding care, and those requiring IV therapy at home and home Dialysis. Palliative Care was given including pain relief with the use of syringe drivers, personal care as needed, and advice and support to both patient and family. The Sisters provided Stoma management to those needing Urostomy, Ileostomy and Colostomy care and those requiring Continence care. HIV/AIDS nursing care was provided; visits to Homeless Persons were made. Personal care was given to patients ranging in age and with varying mobility problems, such as those with MS, MND, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, Poliomyelitis, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Acquired Brain Injury, to those following a Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), those with severe Arthritis and those with a form of Dementia. When necessary the elderly were assisted with personal care and advice given on safety factors with the use of hand rails, bath or shower seats, and hand showers. Rehabilitation with an aim towards independence remained at the forefront of the Sister’s minds and when possible using aids and instruction on safe techniques enabled the person to become fully independent. All care included giving advice and support to the patient and their Carers. The Sisters liaised with the persons Doctor, Hospital and allied Health personal when necessary.In the left foreground of this black and white photograph is a side-on view of Mrs. G, Gerardi, who is wearing glasses; has dark curly hair, and is wearing a black and grey vertically striped dress. She is sitting on a chair in front of a group of RDNS Sisters sitting at small rectangular tables which are butted together. Slightly to her left rear sits Mr. J. Psaros, who has short thick dark hair; is wearing a black leather type jacket, black trousers, white shirt and dark tie. He is looking at Mrs. Gerardi. To his left sits Sister (Sr.) E. Comb, who has short dark hair and is wearing a uniform dark cardigan over a dark dress with white piping on the collar. She is facing the group and looking at Mrs. Gerardi. In the centre of the photograph is the first of the seven RDNS Sisters at tables, five in the front, and two partly hidden in the row behind; they are also looking at Mrs. Gerardi. This Sister has curly dark hair and is wearing day clothes of dark slacks and a dark top, with white circle logo, over a white blouse the peaks of which are seen. The Sister. to her right has short straight dark hair and is wearing a dark cardigan over a light grey skivvie and V neck tunic style frock. The name on a card in front of her is indistinguishable, but 'Footscray' is seen. The next, Sr. Arrisa Perillo, has short curly dark hair and is wearing a short sleeve white blouse under a dark V neck tunic style dress. Her name and the word 'Footscray' is on a card in front of her. The next Sr. has short blonde curly hair and is wearing a dark cardigan over a dark dress with white piping around the peaks of the collar. The next the Sister is partly hidden. Her name is written on a card in front of her, this is indistinguishable except for the word 'Caulfield'. A large dark handbag with light colour motif on it, sits on the light colour carpet under the front section of Sr. Perillo's table. In the background are five windows with open Venetian blinds. Barry Sutton. Quote LJ60rdns education, royal district nursing service, rdns, telephone interpreters, mrs g. gerardi, mr j. psaros, sister e. comb, sister perillo

The equipment items in this photograph are loaned out to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patient's to use in their homes. They are returned to RDNS and sterilized, or cleaned with disinfectant, whichever is appropriate, once they are no longer required. The material items are given to patient's as required. Many of these items are made and donated by RDNS Auxiliary members. From its inception in 1885, the two Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses and clothes as necessary. The Society was at the forefront of health care and continued to liaise with Doctors as the Society expanded. The Nurses provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. They educated their patients, and their Carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; Over the years items were given and equipment was loaned and demonstrated to patients, and if appropriate, to their family members to enable them to care for their loved ones in their homes. The Trained nurses had the rehabilitation of their patients in the forefront of their minds to ensure they were able to live as independently as possible in their own homes. As the years passed the Trained nurses changed from being called 'Nurse' to 'Sister' and the Society changed its name. In the 1970s, now with Royal patronage, and known as Royal District Nursing Service ( RDNS), they contracted a Private and then employed, a Physiotherapist who taught RDNS Sisters the correct transferring techniques, including the use of a hoist when this became available. RDNS Sisters taught and used these techniques in patient’s homes to undertake safe transfer of the patient and to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and family members. Each RDNS Centre had a room or shed where equipment for loan was kept, and Headquarters also kept additional equipment which could be transported to Centres as required. This black and white photograph shows some of the equipment loaned, along with some to be given, to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patients as required. Rear L-R - a white long nightdress with dark embroidery and buttons on the front and embroidery on the edge of the short sleeves. Next are two wooden bath seats; a square metal commode with lid and with its round legs extended to form handles on the left and right sides. A folded dark and white striped crocheted rug hangs over one of the handles. In the centre L-R, is a metal bed cradle, a metal 4 prong walking stick, bed pans, male urinal, stack of nappies with a white child's knitted jumper hanging over them, and a doona. In the front, L-R is a grey blanket, dark coloured bed socks, a sheepskin with a white smocked baby dress sitting on it, and a white babies nightgown on a clear plastic covered white bundle. A black mat sits under these items and a cream brick wall is in the background. Barry Sutton LS 47royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns equipment, rdns auxiliaries

RDNS Sr. Clare McHugh is attending Mr. Stevenson in his home to give him nursing care. She is about to fasten the wheelchair safety belt across Mr. Stevenson's lap to ensure he does not fall out of the wheelchair. The Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), later known as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), visited patients in their home and gave best practice care in many fields of nursing, and to people of many cultures, throughout its 130 years of expansion. Initial visits not only assessed the specific nursing situation but the situation as a whole. The RDNS Trained nurses (Sisters) visited patients from many different cultural backgrounds, and Education was given to their Sisters to assist them when speaking with the patients and giving them care. Their patients ranged in age from babes, children, adults to the elderly and referrals were taken from Hospitals, General Practitioners and allied Health facilities. Some of the care the Sisters provided is as follows: – Post-Natal care given to mother and babe, Wound Care following various types of surgery, accidents, burns, cancer, leg ulcers etc. Supervising and teaching Diabetic Care, including teaching and supervising people with Diabetes to administer their own Insulin, and administering Insulin to those unable to give their own injections. Administering other injections and setting up weekly medication boxes. The Sisters performed Catheterizations on adults suffering from conditions such as Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Guillan-Barre Syndrome, and when required at school on children for e.g. those with Spina Bifida. The Sisters visited those requiring Cystic Fibrosis support and care; those requiring Haemo-Oncology care, including visiting children at school; those requiring Home Enteral Feeding care, and those requiring IV therapy at home and home Dialysis. Palliative Care was given including pain relief with the use of syringe drivers, personal care as needed, and advice and support to both patient and family. The Sisters provided Stoma management to those needing Urostomy, Ileostomy and Colostomy care and those requiring Continence care. HIV/AIDS nursing care was provided; visits to Homeless Persons were made. Personal care was given to patients ranging in age and with varying mobility problems, such as Amputees, those with MS, MND, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, Poliomyelitis, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Acquired Brain Injury, to those following a Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), those with severe Arthritis and those with a form of Dementia. When necessary the elderly were assisted with personal care and advice given on safety factors with the use of hand rails, bath or shower seats, and hand showers. Rehabilitation with an aim towards independence remained at the forefront of the Sister’s minds and when possible using aids and instruction on safe techniques enabled the person to become fully independent. All care included giving advice and support to the patient and their Carers. The Sisters liaised with the persons Doctor, Hospital and allied Health personal when necessary. In the centre of this black and white photograph is Mr. Stevenson, an elderly gentleman, who has balding light hair; is wearing dark rimmed glasses, and is wearing a black cardigan over a grey shirt. A small amount of his grey trousers can be seen. He is sitting in a wheelchair and is looking at the camera. He has a light coloured small blanket tucked under and over the stumps of his above the knee amputated legs. Standing behind his chair, and slightly to his left, is a lady who is wearing glasses; has wavy light grey hair and is wearing a dark grey cardigan over her light coloured patterned frock. Her right hand is seen holding the handle of the wheelchair, and she is looking down at Mr. Stevenson. To the right is Sister Clare McHugh of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), who is slightly bent as she has her hands on the left and right sides of the safety belt across Mr. Stevenson's lap. The belt is attached to either side of the wheelchair. Sr. McHugh has straight blonde hair; only part of her face can be seen as she looks at Mr. Stevenson. She is wearing a white gown over her uniform. In the left background is part of a brick fireplace with wood mantelpiece. A patterned plate and dark items are on the left of the mantelpiece and flowers are seen on the right. Above this, part of a square mirror can be seen. To the right, part of a lounge chair is seen and behind this, an open check curtain and part of a voile curtain is seen. The floor is covered with a light and dark patterned carpet.Barry Sutton LW 6 Namesroyal district nursing service, rdns, rdns nursing care, rdns physiotherapy, sister clare mchugh, mr stevenson

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as part of a 2003-2004 campaign to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. The '5-4-20' denotes a minimum of five nurses for twenty patients in a general medical or surgical ward. 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. This campaign was featured in ANF Victorian Branch newsletters from late 2003 to early 2004. Entitled the '5-4-20 campaign', it was officially launched on 19 November 2003. Advertisements and shirts from the time featured the slogan, '5 nurses for 20 patients. Nothing less!' along with the ANF logo and illustrations by The Age cartoonist Ron Tandberg. The campaign was to promote the role of minimum nurse to patient ratios in ensuring patient safety and encouraging nurse recruitment and retention.Circular yellow, blue and red badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with '5-4-20' and a blue and red triangle design.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 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

A newspaper clipping from a book compiled about the Legacy children's residence called Stanhope. The newspaper clipping from 3 May 1960, shows a photo of nursing graduates. The article mentions that Gael Henneberry from Malmsbury, was also the winner of the CL Forrest Trust prize as well as graduating from Royal Melbourne Hospital. She also announced her engagement to Peter Barden of Gilgandra. Writing next to the clipping mentions they were married 9 March 1960. Stanhope was supervised by Matron Dorothy (Dorrie) Vines from the time it opened in 1946 until she retired in December 1966. It is likely she compiled this notebook as she is referred to as 'self' in one photo. Individual pages of photos or newspaper clippings have been added separately. Items 01817 to 01834. Blamey House (purchased 1947) , Stanhope (purchased 1945) and Harelands (purchased 1950) were residences run by Melbourne Legacy to take care of children whose fathers were servicemen, and who may have been left orphans, or whose mother may have been unable to care for them herself, or they needed to stay in Melbourne for further education. Harelands accomodated boys and girls under the age of 14, Blamey House looked after boys over 14, and Stanhope looked after girls over 14. The children were cared for until they were old enough to become independent. A record of a Stanhope girl being successful in her studies and the matron keeping a clipping from the newspaper. It shows how important the girls' successes were for the staff at Stanhope.Newspaper clipping of the graduation of a junior legatee from Stanhope from nursing training.stanhope, junior legatee

A press release from Melbourne Legacy in 1975 which relates a story of how Legacy works. The information was intended to be used by press and magazines etc. The title 'Rising prices worrying you?' and makes the point that the average cost of a family is rising, and now Legacy is a family of 107,000 people. Throughout Australia Legacy was supporting 80,000 widows and 27,000 children of deceased ex-servicemen who died in or since, the two World Wars, and the conflicts in Korea, Malaya and Vietnam. 'Legacy counsels these families in their daily life, that costs nothing for Legacy members give freely of their time' 'What does cost money, and plenty, is providing the tangible things these fatherless families need. Help with education up to an including tertiary studies. Firewood and other forms of heating in the colder climates. Maintenance of residences where country children can live, with all provided, when they have to come to the city for reasons of welfare, study or employment. Housing projects to care for aged widows, in both city and country areas. Subsidising nursing home beds for the infirm. An impressive list? In the calendar year of 1974 if cost Legacy in Australia almost $2.5 million and with rising prices, the coming year is going to cost considerably more. This is where Legacy seeks your help.' Note that in the 1970s inflation and cost of living was rising quickly.A record of how Legacy promoted their work in the 1970s.Pink foolscap page x 2 with black type of a press release in 1975.Rising prices worrying you?'press release, case studies

A press release from Melbourne Legacy in 1975 which relates a story of how Legacy works. The information was intended to be used by press and magazines etc. The title 'Finding some one who's better off . . . who had a better run' and discusses mateship being important to Australians. It starts with a quote from Sir Robert Menzies, former prime minister of Australia. 'Legacy is not an organisation designed to organise people into a body to pursue their rights or into a body to defend their mutual interests. If anybody were to trace out what's been done by Legacy since Stan Savige first had this great idea he would find himself going into most of the nooks and crannies of Australian life and finding somebody who is better off, who had a better run, who had done something because of the individual responsibility accepted by members of Legacy. They have contributed to the best elements in our national life and they have done it because it's all been based on active personal responsibility'. The article goes on to describe the origins of Legacy and the work done. "Each member of Legacy is responsible for helping about five families. He gives of his time unstintingly; his only reward is to see these families secure, receiving all the advantages to which they are entitled. He sees, with pride, the family grow and for the widow there are social activities organised so that she, too, feels herself to be a useful member of the community. As she grows older, her care is assured as Legacy maintains gradually increasing hostel and/or Nursing Home type accomodation for frail, aged widows in its care.'A record of how Legacy promoted their work in the 1970s.Blue foolscap page x 3 with black type of a press release in 1975.Title 'Finding some one who's better off . . . who had a better run'press release, promotion, robert menzies