Person Brown, Dr Vera Scantlebury (1889 - 1946)
OBE
- Born
- 1889
- Died
- 1946
- Occupation
- Doctor
- Alternative Names
- Dr. Vera (Also known as)
Summary
Commonly known as 'Dr. Vera', Vera Scantlebury Brown worked in children's hospitals in Australia and overseas. She was also involved with the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria. Dr Vera was director of the Infant Welfare Division from 1926 until her death in 1946.
Details
Vera Scantlebury graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1914.
Commonly known as 'Dr Vera', she worked in children's hospitals in Australia and overseas. She was also involved with the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria.
A report she wrote with Dr Henrietta Main, resulting from a survey of the health of women and children in Victoria and New Zealand, led to the establishment of the Infant Welfare Division within the Department of Public Health.
One month after her marriage to Dr Edward Byam Brown in 1926, Scantlebury accepted the position of director of the Infant Welfare Division (part-time, as was the custom for working married women) within the Victorian health department.
A report Dr Vera prepared in 1937 for the National Health and Medical Research Council prompted government funding of the Lady Gowrie Child Centres.
Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown remained director of the Infant Welfare Division until her death in 1946.
Prepared by: Cate Elkner
Created: 20 August 2009, Last modified: 4 November 2009