The first Victorian baby health clinic opened in June 1917 in the St Matthias church hall at the Boroondara Free Kindergarten, Church Street, North Richmond. Its existence followed an international welfare movement concerned about infant mortality rates and was established under the direction of Dr Isabella Younger Ross (OBE, MB, ChM) (1887-1956).

The purpose of the service was to reduce the alarmingly high death rate of babies in the industrial inner city suburbs of Melbourne. Free practical advice was provided to mothers on nutrition, breastfeeding, hygienic preparation of milk, and mothercraft. Along with supporters, Mrs J.Hemphill and Mrs W. Ramsay, Dr Ross contributed financially to the centre, guaranteeing the salary of the clinic sister Muriel Peck for the first three months. As other centres opened in nearby suburbs, these women continued their significant work, travelling by tram to the centres, often armed with the scales for weighing the babies [1].

Sister Muriel Peck decided one of the best ways to locate new mothers was by walking around and looking for nappies on clothes lines and prams on verandahs. This tactic proved successful, with five mothers and babies coming to the church hall on the clinic’s first day, where they found Muriel Peck prepared with a card table, fruit boxes with cushions, scales and an exercise book [2].

By June 1918 nine centres had opened, in Melbourne's CBD, Richmond, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Brunswick and Geelong [3], and the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association (VBHCA) was formed. Its number one aim was ‘to safeguard the health of mothers and babies, by the spread of knowledge of the laws of health [4].’

With these brand new buildings, the maternal and child health services were embedded in their local neighbourhoods and provided a space for mothers with babies to visit, ask questions and seek assurances [5]. The Maternal and Child Health Service (MCH) of today is an invaluable resource to families with children from birth to school age. It promotes healthy outcomes and provides free practical support and advice at centres across Australia.

References

[1] Kerreen M. Reiger, 'Ross, Isabella Henrietta Younger (Isie) (1887–1956)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-isabella-henrietta-younger-isie-8272/text14493, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 26 June 2017. This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, (MUP), 1988

[2] Robson, B. The Best Possible Foundation: Yarra’s maternal and child health centres, 1917–2017, Yarra City Council, 2017, p.4.

[3] ANMF (Vic Branch) and the Victorian Association of Maternal and Child Health Nurses, 100 Years of Maternal and Child Health Nursing 1917-2017, viewed online: www.anmfvic.asn.au/mch100

[4] Sheard, H, Victoria's Baby Health Centres: a history 1917-1950: how did a statewide system of Baby Health Centres grow from the efforts of a small group of concerned women in 1917?, Masters Research thesis, Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2005.

[5] Robson, opcit., p.10.

Further Reading

ANMF (Vic Branch) and the Victorian Association of Maternal and Child Health Nurses, 100 Years of Maternal and Child Health Nursing 1917-2017

Robson, B. The Best Possible Foundation: Yarra’s maternal and child health centres, 1917–2017, Yarra City Council, 2017.

Sheard, H, Victoria's Baby Health Centres: a history 1917-1950: how did a statewide system of Baby Health Centres grow from the efforts of a small group of concerned women in 1917?, Masters Research thesis, Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2005

City of Yarra Maternal and Child Health Care Centres

https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/services/family-and-children/maternal-child-health-service