VPRS 18227 Committee Minutes

Full description

This series consist of volumes of meeting minutes of various committees established under legislation or by the Mental Hygiene Authority (VA 2838) and its successor, the Mental Health Authority (VA 692). The Committees include:


Advisory Committee (1952-1976)

An Advisory Committee to the Authority was established in accordance with section 16 of the Mental Hygiene Authority Act 1950 (No. 5519). Appointments to the Committee were made by the Governor in Council. It consisted of eight members, comprising:
- a senior medical officer in the Mental Hygiene Branch;
- a legally qualified medical practitioner engaged in practice as a consultant in psychiatry;
- two members representing mental hospital auxiliaries and similar voluntary organisations working for the mentally ill;
- one representing the Victorian Branch of the Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia;
- one a member of the staff of the Mental Hygiene Branch who was a member of the Hospital Employees Federation of Australasia; and
- two representing respectively the University of Melbourne and the nursing profession.

Whenever the Advisory Committee deemed it advisable it could co-opt any expert person to sit with the Committee. Terms of tenure for members were at the behest of the Governor in Council. Appointments to the Committee were published by notice in the Government Gazette.

The functions of the Advisory Committee were to:
- advise the Authority on all matters relating to the Mental Hygiene Branch; and
- report to the Authority on any particular matter referred to it by the Authority.

Meetings of the Advisory Committee were held approximately 1-2 times per month and moved between the Authority's Head Office and the major institutions. Agenda items include discussions of the physical environment of the institutions, general treatment of patients and staffing matters.


Medical Superintendents Committee (1952-1974)

The Medical Superintendents Committee consisted of medical superintendents of mental hospitals, receiving houses and other institutions provided by the state, as well as senior medical officers in the Mental Hygiene Branch. The chairman of the committee was to be appointed by the Minister. The committee met at least twice each year.

The purpose of the committee was to make recommendations to the Authority in relation to the administration of the Mental Hygiene Acts.

The first meeting of the Medical Superintendents Committee was held on 3 April 1952. Meetings were attended by representatives of the major mental health institutions. Those institutions included, Mont Park, Kew, Bundoora, Ballarat, Beechworth, Ararat, Sunbury and Royal Park.


Chaplains Advisory Committee (1958-1970)

The first meeting of the Chaplains Advisory Committee was held on 4 August 1958. The Committee was an unofficial body and representation of the Committee was based on the Defence Forces representation during World War II. The Committee met to discuss the availability and appointment of chaplains, the preparation of seminars, the role of the chaplain in mental hospitals, the agenda for Mental Health Week and the financing of chapels at the various institutions.


Alcoholic and Drug Dependent Persons Branch (1973-1978)

The first meeting of the Alcoholic and Drug Dependent Persons Branch was held on 14 February 1973. Matters discussed at meetings included staffing matters, finance, works, and medication issues.


Trust Fund Committees (1973-1978)

Committees were established to manage various trust funds and the meetings of these committees were all chaired by the Chairman of the Mental Health Authority. Attendees comprised trustees and departmental officers.

The meeting minutes in this series include:

- Minutes of the Trustees of the Muriel Yarrington Fellowship Fund (19 January 1973 to 19 April 1978). This Committee met on an ad hoc basis during the course of its existence. Meetings of the Trust were concerned primarily with the allocation of funds. This Trust was in honour of Muriel Yarrington, who was the first nurse in Victoria to hold the position of Nursing Advisor, Mental Hygiene Branch, Health Department Victoria.

- Minutes of the Trustees of the Mental Health Donations Trust Fund (21 February 1973 to 29 November 1978). The trustees met several times per year. Meetings of the Trust were concerned primarily with the allocation of funds and the authorisation of expenditure which came from a variety of sources.

- Minutes of the Trustees of the Bruce Bowman Pearce Bequest Trust Fund ( 21 January 1974 to 29 November 1978). Expenditure related to the Bruce Bowman Pearce Holiday Camp at Lake Eppaloch.