The Australian Women's Register

Initially, the Constitution of Community Services, Australian Red cross, focused on supplies and aid for the sick and wounded in war, supplementing medical services, providing first aid and home nursing for home service and assistance in great public disasters, calamity or need. Much home activity occurred at a State level in the early stages, and across States between World War I and World War II, as the Australian Red Cross responded to health crises such as influenza and polio using auxiliaries, welfare committees and Voluntary Aid Detachments. By the 1940s the national Welfare Service catered for sick and disabled ex-service personnel. In 1944, this service inaugurated an Australian Red Cross scholarship scheme for training in social work, while ladies committees became active in home hospitals after World War II – an area in which Lady Vera White became particularly innovative. In the 1960s, the Welfare Service sent top-level representatives to the Australian Council of Social Services, and included the social work service as part of its community services. By the late 1970s, Health and Hospital Services included rest homes and programs in emergency care, beauty therapy, music therapy, library services, a talking book library, and medical equipment loans. At this time the service reported that they were involved in community development, volunteer training, settlement of refugees and migrants, disaster care and work for special needs groups. In the 1990s, the area was known as Community Services. In 2003, Health and Care Services provided 66 local programs including Telecross, meals on wheels, transport, Assistance and Care in Emergency Department in Victoria, Community Jobs and New Friends.