World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941
1941Group portrait of Voluntary Aid Detachment Section 514
The primary role of a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) member was that of nursing orderly in hospitals, carrying out menial but essential tasks - scrubbing floors, sweeping, dusting and cleaning bathrooms and other areas, dealing with bedpans, and washing patients. They were not employed in military hospitals, except as ward and pantry maids; rather, they worked in Red Cross convalescent and rest homes, canteens, and on troop trains.
At the start of the First World War, Australian VADs were restricted from traveling overseas by the Defence Council. As a result, many chose to travel on their own initiative and join British detachments, often in Australian Hospitals. It is reported that the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital included in their nursing staff some 120 VADs, chiefly Australians in the British service, employed through the Australian Red Cross Society. This policy was changed in 1916 after a request from Great Britain, and the first detachment of thirty official Australian VADs to serve overseas left Australia in September 1916.
The role of VADs did not significantly evolve between the wars. VADs in the Second World War were given more medical training, but they were not fully qualified nurses. They worked in convalescent hospitals, on hospital ships and the blood bank as well as on the home front.
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941 (0km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1945 (0.12km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94821 Edwards (0.15km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3196 CHENEY (0.33km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, TRUSCOTT, 1943 (0.39km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, TRUSCOTT, 1943 (0.5km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93345 CHISHOLM (nee PALMER) (0.61km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3004 LONGMORE, 10 Light Horse (0.71km away)
- PHOTOGRAPH: WEST SUBIACO RUGBY CLUB, PREMIERS AND PENNANT WINNERS, 1932 (0.71km away)
- PHOTOGRAPH: PEGGY HENWOOD AND FAMILY, CORNER SMYTHE AND ABERDARE ROADS (0.73km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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World War 2, Australia Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941
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World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941
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World War 2, Australia Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941
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World War 2, Australia Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941
