Student Nurse Uniform

Uniform worn during the 1950's at the Victoria District Hospital.

In 1926 the Government introduced a four year training programme in the hospitals under their control. Geraldton was part of this plan in the 20’s when it reverted to being part of the training
programme involving Wooroloo and Kalgoorlie for six months country training.

In 1947 Miss V.M. Crowley, a Government trainee and ex army nurse was appointed Matron of Victoria District Hospital, Geraldton. Following the appointment by the Medical Department of Miss Dora Helen Bailey as Organiser of Nursing Training, Geraldton joined the other country hospitals, on March 29th 1948 in a three year training programme. Miss Bailey instigated a plan to meet the needs of the smaller hospitals controlled by the Department named the Central Training School, it was a Complete Block System , the first of it’s kind in Australia.

The school provided essential theoretical and clinical instructions in a nine weeks preliminary training period. Nurses were then posted to a country hospital to return for first, second and third year block lectures of four weeks duration. At first the preliminary training school were conducted a at Northam Hospital, moving to Anstey St, Cottesloe in 1949.

In 1951, Miss Edith E Harler, a former Government trainee, became the Organiser of Nurse Training. The school moved to Collins Street, West Perth in 1955 and was renamed the Government School of Nursing.

Under this scheme 126 student nurses completed their 3 year training at the Victoria District Hospital between 1948 and when the new Regional Hospital opened in Shenton Street, Geraldton in 1966.
Ref: Victoria Hobbs – But Westward Look
Coral Mullins - Victoria Hospital Heritage Brochure