Barbara Carson (22 March 1927 – 17 November 2015) was an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

nurse and trade union leader who led the Victoria State branch of the

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is the largest trade union in Australia with over 300,000 members. The union is run by nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing/personal carers to advance the industrial, political and p ...

to its first ever strike in 1985.

Life

Carson was born in

Bundaberg Bundaberg () is the major regional city in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the List of cities in Australia by population, ninth largest city in the state. The Bundaberg central business district is situa ...

in 1927. She trained as a nurse at Queensland's

Maryborough Base Hospital Maryborough Base Hospital is a heritage-listed hospital at Walker Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Colonial Architect John James Clark and built from 1887 by Robert Taylor. It is a ...

. In 1971 she was promoted to Chief Nursing Officer. She later left to join what was then called the Royal Australian Nursing Federation. She was elected to be the Federation's branch secretary. Changes were introduced to the RANF including allowing nursing student members to vote in RANF elections. RANF created examinations for members of their profession and preparation could be made for the exams on college courses. RANF members, for the first time were given indemnity insurance. Carson most important change, followed her successful campaign, was to remove a clause in the Victoria branch rules of the

in 1984 that prohibited strikes. In 1985 Carson organised a successful five-day strike that protested against nurses being required to do non-nursing duties. Carson resigned in January 1986. Membership of the federation had increased and there were over 21,000 members. When Carson had started it was around 13,000.

Irene Bolger Irene Bolger (c.1943 - ) is an Australian trade unionist, barrister and politician. She led a successful 50 day strike by nurses in Victoria. She was sacked and reinstated by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. After failing to be re- ...

, who had previously and unsuccessfully stood for election against Carson, became the replacement branch secretary.

Death and legacy

Carson died on 17 November 2015 in Geelong leaving her companion, Jenny. Belinda Morieson who succeeded Bolger as Branch secretary credits Carson as "the first leader to industrialise and make a union of the ANF".. The Carson Conference Centre at the Victorian Branch of the ANMF is named in honour of Carson.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Barbara 1927 births 2015 deaths People from Bundaberg Australian nurses Australian trade unionists