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)

---, ---, Cottages Liaison Committee members, pp. 4&5 ---, (---), (Untitled), p.4. ---, (---), [Memo re feedback from Official Visitors Conference at Royal Park], p.1. ---, (---), [Patient profile proforma], pp.1-2. ---, (---), Admission to Children’s Cottages Kew, p.1. ---, (---), Admissions Procedure, pp.1-2. ---, (---), Chaplaincy, p.1. ---, (---), Children’s Cottages and Special School Kew - Open for Education Week, p.1. ---, (---), Children’s Cottages Kew, p. 1-2. ---, (---), Children’s Cottages Kew, p.1. ---, (---), Children’s Cottages, Kew - Pathology Request and Report Form, p. 1. ---, (---), Children’s Cottages? Kew, pp.1-4 ---, (---), Extracts From the Report of Dr. J. V. McCreery, first Superintendent, p.1. ---, (---), Kew Cottages Training Centre Brochure, pp.1. ---, (---), Kew Special School, pp.1-2. ---, (---), Notes for General Guidance of Officers in Charge of Idiot Children, p.1. ---, (---), Notes for General Guidance of Officers in Charge of Idiot Children, p.1. ---, (---), Notes for Student Groups, pp.1-6. ---, (---), Physiotherapy at the Children’s Cottages Kew, p.1. ---, (---), Preface to Brochure on Cottages, pp.1-2. ---, (---), The administrative staff comprises …, pp.1-2. ---, (---), Untitled, p.2. ---, (1958, 29 August), Notes from a meeting of Superintendents with Dr Dax and other superintendents, p.1. ---, (1958, October - December), Proposed Survey of Children’s Cottages, Kew, pp.1-6., and Case Sheet pp. 1-5. ---, (1961, 2 November), Untitled letter regarding finances and upgrades, p.1. ---, (1962, 25 October), Memorandum, p.1. ---, (1962), Children’s Cottages Kew [overview of activities], p.1. ---, (1962), Report for the Year 1962 [statistics], p.1. ---, (1963), The Children’s Cottages Kew, pp.1-3. ---, (1964, 10 September), Merchandise Project Children’s Welfare Fund, Kew Cottages Parents Association, p.1. ---, (1964, 26 May), [Draft] Preface to Brochure on Cottages, pp.1-2. ---, (1964, October), Report to the Twelfth Annual (Perth) Conference: Australian Council for the Mentally Retarded, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-2. ---, (1964), Children’s Welfare Fund: Disbursements July 1963 - September 1964. [Brady, Dr W.A.] , (---), Transfer of Patients from One Institution to Another, pp.1-3. [Higgins, Irena], (---), The Formation and Development of Kew Children’s Cottages Parent’s Association, pp.1-6. Ashburner, J.B., (---, ---), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 1 April), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 10 February), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-3. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 10 March), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 11 March), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-4. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 11 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 12 March), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-4. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 12 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 13 August), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 13 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-3. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 14 April), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 15 April), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 15 June), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 16 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 19 February), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 19 October), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 2 April), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 2 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 2 March), Annual Report for 1952, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-4. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 20 August), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 21 October), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 23 February), Notices and Instruction - Succinic Acid Treatment, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2 Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 23 June), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 23 March), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 25 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 27 April), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-3. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 27 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 28 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 29 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 3 September), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 31 March), Notices and Instructions - Rations, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-4. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 4 June), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 4 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 4 October), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 6 April), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 6 October), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 7 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Ashburner, J.B., (1954, 5 February), Notices and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady Dr. W.A. (1960, December), Newsletter to parents, pp.1-5 Brady, Dr W.A. (1965, 28 May), Letter to The Secretary, Mental Health Authority regarding waiting lists, p.1. Brady, Dr. W.A. (1963, 28 February) Annual Report [to the Secretary of the Mental Health Authority], pp.1-15 Brady, W.A., (1954, 9 April), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, pp.1-2. Brady, W.A., (1954, 15 December), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1954, 7 December), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1954, 9 November), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 13 December), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 14 December), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 15 July), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 20 June), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 24 June), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 24 October), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 25 August), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 29 March), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 5 December), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 8 November), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1955, 9 May), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1956, 6 January), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Brady, W.A., (1961, 8 December), Invitation to a screening of Dr. Pitt’s “Brookland Experiment”, p.1. Brazier, ‘Mac’ (1964, February), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-2. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, June), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, April), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, August), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, December), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. [3 copies]. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, July), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, May), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, November), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-5. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, October), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-6. Brazier, ‘Mac’, (1964, September), Newsletter, Kew Cottages Parents Association, pp.1-4. Brazier, Betty (1964, 26 April), Letter to I Higgins re Distribution of newsletters to staff, Kew Cottages Parents Association. (p.1) Dale, (1964), A Few Facts About the Children’s Cottages Kew Fordyce, J., (1956, 13 January), Notes and Instructions, Kew Mental Hospital, p.1. Higgins, Irena (---), A Short History of the Children’s Cottages, Kew, pp.1-2. Higgins, Irena (1966, 28 November), Letter to Dr Brady regarding waiting lists, pp.1-3. Higgins, Irena, (---), ‘Children’s Cottages’, Kew, p. 1-2. Loveless, L.W., (1963, 18 July), [Commonwealth Department of Social Services] ‘Approval of Children’s Cottages as an endowed Institution’, p.1. M.H. 11, Schedule 17 Section 41 (2) (b), ‘Request of Medical Practitioner for Admission of Voluntary patient to a Training Centre or Private Training Centre’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 12, Section 41 (10) (a) (b) (c), ‘Order for the Discharge of a Voluntary Patient’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 13, Section 41 (10) (d), ‘Application for Discharge by Voluntary Patient and Order for Discharge’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 14, Section 41 (1), Application for Leave of Absence for Voluntary Patient, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 2, Schedule 9 Section 41 (a) 41 (b) 42 (1) 43 (1) 44 (1) 48, 59 (1) (2) ‘Statement of Personal Details of Patient’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1-2. M.H. 21, Schedule 9 Section 44 (1) 48 and 52, Medical Approval for Admission to Training Centre, Mental Health Regulations 1962, pp.1-2. M.H. 22, Schedule 25 Section 44, Request to Receive a Patient into a Training Centre, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 33, Schedule 40, Section 62, Notice of Death, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 37, Section 87 (1), Application and Approval for Trial Leave, Recommended and Approved Patients, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 39, Section 93 (1), Order of Superintendent for Discharge of Patient on Leave Upon Production of Medical Certificate, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 40, Section 94 (1), Order of Superintendent for Discharge of Patient, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 43, Section 102, Consent of the Chief medical Officer or Superintendent for Anaethesia or Surgical Operation Upon a Patient, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p. 1. M.H. 7, Schedule 14 Section 41 (2) (a) (i) and (ii), ‘Application for Admission of Voluntary Patient to a Training Centre or Private Training Centre by Parent or Guardian’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. M.H. 9, Schedule 16 Section 41 (2) (a) (ii), ‘Application for Admission to a Training Centre as a Voluntary Patient’, Mental Health Regulations 1962, p.1. Medical Officers (1958, 11 October), Percentage of deaths and statistics for the years 1955 to 1957, Report to Dr. E.C. Dax, Chairman, Mental Health Authority, pp. 1-2. Plumridge, Len, (1964), Statement of Receipts & Expenditure 1963-1964: Children’s Welfare Fund, Kew Cottages Parents Association, p.1. Temby, E., (---), The Kew Cottages Parents’ Association, p. 1-2. Temby, Ethel, (1964, October), Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Conference, Australian Council for the Mentally Retarded, pp.1-2. Temby, Ethel, (1964, September), [Information Committee] Sixth Annual Report pp.1-2 Temby, Ethel, (1964, September), Information Committee: Sixth Annual Report, pp.1-2 Wann, E.M., (1956, 16 March), Memo [regarding the overcrowding crisis], p. 1. WM.7663 (---), Children’s Cottages Kew E.4 [overview and personnel], pp. 1-2.An important manuscript comprising original and reproduced materials from the period 1952-1964 assembled by and for senior staff at the Children's Cottages, Kew.Sorted folio of original manuscripts and printed material from the 1950s and 1960s relating to the Kew Cottages created by Irena Higgins, senior social worker at the Kew Mental Hospital and Kew Cottages. The material later formed part of the collection of Dr Cliff Judge, resident psychiatrist at the Cottages. Material within the folio includes original typescripts created by Irena Higgins, copies of newsletters by various Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent Psychiatrists including Dr A.W. Brady, and published and unpublished reports to relevant mental health departments.mental health - victoria - history, chidren's cottages - kew, irana higgins, dr cliff judge, dr. a.w. brady