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Australasian Trained Nurses' Association

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Australasian Trained Nurses' Association
AbbreviationATNA
FormationDecember 1899; 124 years ago (1899-12)
FounderSusan McGahey and Margaret Farquharson

The Australasian Trained Nurses' Association was an association formed in 1899 to register nurses who had been trained in Australia.

History

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Susan McGahey was a co-founder of the Australasian Trained Nurses' Association (ATNA) in December 1899 which was briefly named the Australian Trained Nurses' Association. She had posted a newspaper advert asking for people interested in forming an association to register trained nurses to meet with her.[1][2] Frederick Norton Manning was one of several doctors involved with the early organisation and he became the association's first President[3]

According to Russell the original idea for the ATNA began with a proposal from two matrons, Matron Susan McGahey of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney and Matron Martha Farquharson who was from 1890 to 1895 Matron at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, and from 1895 to 1900 Matron at the Melbourne Hospital.[4]

At the meeting on 26 May 1899 to form the ATNA a provisional committee comprising seven matrons Matron Susan McGahey of RAPH; Matron Frances Georginia Spencer of Parramatta Hospital for the Insane and later Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital; (Ellen Julie) Nellie Gould matron of the Hospital for the Insane at Rydalmere; Mrs Joseph; Mrs James Graham (nee Fanny Millard), Matron of the Benevolent Asylum,  and medical personnel including Dr Sir (knighted 1901)[5] James Graham, Dr Chubbe, Dr Thomas Fiaschi, Dr Mills, Dr Thring and Dr Purser.[4] The original committee also included six sisters and nurses: Miss Davis?, Miss Rebecca Godson, Lady Superintendent 'Green' Home, Sydney, Miss Maria F Sanders, Senior Sister, Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Sydney, Miss Alice May Ryrie, Matron Craigend Private Hospital, Sydney, and Miss Wilson.[6]

The state of Victoria had solved the same problem of registering trained nurses by creating an organisation modelled on the that used in the UK, but other states followed the ATNA model.[1] In 1904 Florence Chatfield presided over the inaugural meeting of a branch in Queensland. She and her life partner, Ellen Barron, were to be leading supporters of that branch.[7] Between 1904 and 1908, South Australia,[8] Western Australia and Tasmania all formed local ATNA associations (in that order). The organisation in Victoria continued, but it was on good terms with the ATNA.[1]

In 1903 the association launched its own journal titled The Australasian Nurses' Journal with McGahey as the editor.[2] By this point the aims of the association were laid out. The association had been formed to create a register of trained nurses but it also intended to oversee the appointments of matrons, to create a register of hospitals that trained nurses and to try and establish a minimum standard for a nurses training.[1]

The first paid secretary, Evelyn Paget Evans, of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association was appointed in 1917. She was also the General secretary of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.[9]

The Australian Nursing Federation was formed in 1924.

The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children's matron Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie was the President from 1932 to 1933.[10] Hilda Mary Hanton served as the ATNA President from 1941 to 1945.[11] Doris Bardsley became the president of the ATNA in 1951.[12] From 1954 to 1956 Joan Stevenson Abbott was the President and she resigned when she found that she could not improve nurses' working conditions.[13]

Notable members include

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Nurse education in Australia: Part 3". Australian College of Nursing. 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  2. ^ a b Forsyth, Sue, "Susan Bell McGahey (1862–1919)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian, retrieved 2023-10-30
  3. ^ "Australasian Trained Nurses' Association". Sydney Morning Herald. 1900-07-07. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  4. ^ a b Russell, R Lynette (1990). From Nightingale to Now: Nurse Education in Australia. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. pp. 17–20. ISBN 0729503380.
  5. ^ Margaret Caldwell, Sir James Graham (1865-1913). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/graham-sir-james-3649/text5687 , published first in hardcopy 1972, accessed online 11 October 2023.
  6. ^ Australasian Trained Nurses Association, Register of Members, 1899, New South Wales State Library.
  7. ^ Law, Glenda, "Florence Chatfield (1867–1949)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-04-20
  8. ^ a b Gibberd, Joyce, "Kate Hill (1859–1933)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-01
  9. ^ Godden, Judith; Radi, Heather, "Evelyn Paget Evans (1881–1960)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-09-27
  10. ^ Lincoln, Merrilyn, "Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie (1887–1972)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-04
  11. ^ a b Durdin, Joan, "Hilda Mary Hanton (1884–1954)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-10-25
  12. ^ Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "Bardsley, Doris - Woman - The Australian Women's Register". womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  13. ^ Fulloon, Gillian, "Joan Stevenson (Judy) Abbott (1899–1975)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-10-30
  14. ^ Gardiner, Lyndsay, "Jane Bell (1873–1959)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-10-31
  15. ^ Foley, Meredith; Godden, Judith, "Isla Stuart Blomfield (1865–1959)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-14
  16. ^ Gaston, Carol F., "Clara Winifred Howie (1881–1960)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-10-31
  17. ^ Cornell, Judith, "Betty Dorothy Lyons (1921–1986)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-04
  18. ^ Fulloon, Gillian, "Edna Mary Anna Jane Shaw (1891–1974)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-03-31
  19. ^ Durdin, Joan, "Theodora Maude (Dora) Sweetapple (1872–1972)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-04-14