Durdin, Joan (1922-)

Also known as
Durdin, Dorothy (1922-)
Durdin, Dorothy Joan (1922-)
Field of activity
Nurse, Educator and Historian
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35842835
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-574687

Biographies

Joan Durdin, author of They Became Nurses: A History of Nursing in South Australia, 1836-1980 (1991) and Eleven Thousand Nurses: A History of Nursing Education at the Royal Adelaide Hospital 1889-1993 (1999) is a nursing historian and as a nurse educator has contributed much to the advancement of nursing through the development of advanced education in the higher education sector. In addition to her ten year's teaching at Royal Adelaide Hospital she spent six years as a nurse educator in Papua New Guinea. She conducted extensive oral history interviews for the Royal Adelaide Hospital Heritage and History Committee, 1991-1998. Durdin is commemorated by the Joan Durdin Oration, an annual event initiated and sponsored by the Department of Clinical Nursing at the University of Adelaide.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Joan Durdin, author of They Became Nurses: A History of Nursing in South Australia, 1836-1980 (1991) and Eleven Thousand Nurses: A History of Nursing Education at the Royal Adelaide Hospital 1889-1993 (1999) is a nursing historian and as a nurse educator has contributed much to the advancement of nursing through the development of advanced education in the higher education sector. In addition to her ten year's teaching at Royal Adelaide Hospital she spent six years as a nurse educator in Papua New Guinea. She conducted extensive oral history interviews for the Royal Adelaide Hospital Heritage and History Committee, 1991-1998. Durdin is commemorated by the Joan Durdin Oration, an annual event initiated and sponsored by the Department of Clinical Nursing at the University of Adelaide.

Joan Durdin AM studied general nursing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (completed 1945), midwifery at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne (completed 1947) and infant welfare at Torrens House Adelaide (completed 1949). In 1949 she was awarded a Florence Nightingale Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Nursing London and later returned to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where she was Senior Sister Tutor from 1955 until 1964.

In 1974 she was appointed Lecturer in the Nursing Department, Sturt College of Advanced Education where she shared responsibility for the development of the curriculum for the basic program and for clinical placements of students. She was Head of the Department from 1979-1981 and when she retired in 1983 was Head of the School of Health Professions at the South Australian College of Advanced Education Sturt Campus. The importance of her work was recognised when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1985.

Durdin was also active in the work of the College of Nursing Australia, now the Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA) which awarded her an Honorary Fellowship in 1984. She was President of the South Australian Branch of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation ( now the Australian Nursing Federation) between 1976 and 1980 and a member of the Board of Management of Child and Adolescent and Family Health Service for three years including Chair of the Board in 1983.

Following her retirement Joan Durdin completed an Honours degree in History at the University of Adelaide. She then became involved in RCNA's National History Project, developed an oral history handbook and coordinated the National Oral History Program. She convened a sub-committee to compile the South Australian Chapter's archives, published a history of nursing in South Australia and wrote a number of biographies.

Durdin has been an architect of the transformation of nursing training in South Australia from the hospital to the tertiary education sector. She has been a leader nationally and internationally in the struggle to improve the professional status of nursing for more than 40 years and is renowned for her personal attributes of tact, diplomacy, tenacity of purpose, insight and calmness in adversity.

This text comprised the citation on the occasion of Joan Durdin being awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Flinders University of South Australia in 1994, and is used with permission.

Memberships

Member, Royal Australian Nursing Federation, 1946-1984; Fellow, College of Nursing, Australia, 1953-1984; Member, Education committee, College of Nursing, Australia, 1961-1965; Chairman, Education committee, College of Nursing, Australia, 1962-1964; Member, Florence Nightingale Committee (SA Branch), 1953-1965; Secretary, Florence Nightingale Committee (SA Branch), 1954-1964; Member, Council of Royal Australian Nursing, Federation (SA Branch), 1953-1965; Vice-President, Royal Australian Nursing Federation (SA Branch), 1975-1976; President, Royal Australian Nursing Federation (SA Branch), 1977-1981; Member, Federal Council, Royal Australian Nursing Federation, 1977-1981; Examiner, Nurses' Board of South Australia, 1955-1964, 1972-1982; Convenor, Archives sub-committee, Royal College of Nursing, Australia, SA Chapter, 1989-1997; Member, Management Committee of the National Nursing Archival Project, Royal College of Nursing, Australia, 1990-1993; Convenor, Oral History Working Party, National Nursing Archival Project, Royal College of Nursing, Australia, 1990-1993; Secretary, Oral History Association of Australia, (SA Branch), 1983-1997; President, Oral History Association of Australia (SA Branch), 1997-1999; Honorary member, Oral History Association of Australia, 1999; Member, Historical Society of South Australia, 1985- ; Member, Australian Society of the History of Medicine, 1990- ;

  • 1945 Infectious Diseases Nursing Certificate completed at Northfield
  • 1945 General Nursing Certificate completed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • 1947 Midwifery Certificate completed at the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne
  • 1950 - 1951 Florence Nightingale Scholarship for overseas study
  • 1951 Tutor sister diploma completed at the Royal College of Nursing (UK) / London University
  • 1965 Diploma of Arts and Education completed at the University of Adelaide
  • 1984 Honorary Fellow of the College of Nursing, Australia
  • 1984 Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) completed at the University of Adelaide
  • 1985 Member of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to nursing education
  • 1994 Honorary Doctorate received from Flinders University of South Australia

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Resources for Joan Durdin

Selected resources (17)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Learning to be a Nurse 1879-1920 : Early Steps in the Professionalisation of Nursing in South Australia
    Durdin, J.D.
    Published: Department of History, University of Adelaide
  2. They Became Nurses : A History of Nursing in South Australia, 1836-1980
    Durdin, Joan
    [1991]
    Published: Allen & Unwin
  3. Eleven thousand nurses : a history of nursing education at the Royal Adelaide Hospital 1889-1993
    Durdin, Joan
    [1999]
    Published: Royal Adelaide Hospital
  4. Eleven thousand nurses : a history of nursing education at Royal Adelaide Hospital 1889-1993
    Durdin, Joan
    [1999]
    Published: Royal Adelaide Hospital
  5. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  6. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Interview with Marlienne Thomson [sound recording] Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    Recorded on 19 May 1988. Marlienne Thomson was born at Ceduna, South Australia. After two years as a dental nurse she began training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1951. When training was completed she had appointments as staff nurse and charge nurse at the RAH. Marlienne attended the College of Nursing, Australia in 1958 and gained a diploma in ward management and teaching. On her return to Adelaide she was active in introducing new procedures at the RAH. She resigned in 1961 to attend the Adelaide Bible Institute and in 1964 went to South India to serve as a missionary at the Christian Medical College and Hospital at Vellore.
    OH 17/15

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

  1. Hanton, Hilda Mary (1884-1954) Hospital MatronAustralian Dictionary of Biography John Ritchie 14 382 : Hanton, Hilda Mary (1884-1954) Hospital Matron
    Durdin, Joan
    [1996]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  2. Doctors and the Training of Nurses in South Australia, 1880-1920Reflections on Medical History and Health in Australia. Third National Conference on Medical History and Health in Australia Harold Attwood and Geoffrey Kenny 93-100 : Doctors and the Training of Nurses in South Australia, 1880-1920
    Durdin, Joan
    [1986]
    Published: University of Melbourne, Medical History Unit
  3. The Place of Oral History in Nursing HistoryAustralian Journal of Advanced Nursing 2 1 4-8 : The Place of Oral History in Nursing History
    Durdin, Joan
    [1984]
  4. Carroll, Dorothy (1897-1966), Hospital MatronAustralian Dictionary of Biography John Ritchie 13 373-374 : Carroll, Dorothy (1897-1966), Hospital Matron
    Durdin, Joan
    [1993]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  5. Learning to be a Nurse: Early Steps in the Professionalisation of Nursing in South Australia
    Durdin, Joan
    [1984]
    Published: University of Adelaide
  6. Nursing in the Outposts: Resources for a Historian of NursingHistory and Health: Journal of the Australian Society of the History of Medicine : Nursing in the Outposts: Resources for a Historian of Nursing
    Durdin, Joan
    [1995]
  7. Discovering Australian NursingPapers of the First National [Nursing] History Conference: Australian Nursing - The Story : Discovering Australian Nursing
    Durdin, Joan
    [1993]
    Published: Royal College of Nursing
  8. Spoken to Written Word: Writing a History of Nursing in South AustraliaOral History Association of Australia Journal 13 : Spoken to Written Word: Writing a History of Nursing in South Australia
    Durdin, Joan
    [1991]
  9. Four Nursing Pioneers in Colonial South AustraliaHistory of Nursing Bulletin 2 1 : Four Nursing Pioneers in Colonial South Australia
    Durdin, Joan
    [1987]
    Published: Royal College of Nursing
  10. Doctors and the training of nurses in South Australia 1880-1920Reflections on Medical History and Health in Australia: Third National Conference on Medical History and Health in Australia, 4 September 1986 Attwood, Harold and Kenny, Geoffrey : Doctors and the training of nurses in South Australia 1880-1920
    Durdin, Joan
    [1987]
    Published: Medical History Unit, University of Melbourne and Medical History Society, AMA (Victorian Branch)
  11. They Became Nurses: a History of Nursing in South Australia, 1836-1980
    Durdin, Joan
    [1991]
    Published: Allen & Unwin

Resources by Joan Durdin (110)

  1. They became nurses : a history of nursing in South Australia, 1836-1980
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Book : 1991 ]
    At 57 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.579)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.579)

  2. Interview with Joan Durdin / Interviewer: Lorraine Thomas
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Sound : 1993 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.803)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.803)

  3. Eleven thousand nurses : a history of nursing education at the Royal Adelaide Hospital 1889-1993 / Joan Durdin
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Book : 1999-2005 ]
    At 15 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.044)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.044)

  4. Nursing Oral Histories / Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Sound : 1992 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.258)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.258)

  5. Oral history kit : for those who will interview nurses to collect oral history records for the National Nursing Archival Project / compiled by Joan Durdin
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Book : 1992 ]
    At 8 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.185)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.185)

  6. Interview with Ruth Harrington / Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    Harrington, Ruth, 1922-
    [ Sound : 1988 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.755)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.755)

  7. Learning to be a nurse, 1879-1920 : early steps in the professionalisation of nursing in South Australia / Dorothy Joan Durdin
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Thesis : 1984 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.74)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.74)

  8. Interview with Marjorie Dickson / Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    Dickson, Marjorie, 1923-
    [ Sound : 1992 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.432)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.432)

  9. Interview with Sybil McCulloch / Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    McCulloch, Sybil, 1934-
    [ Sound : 1998 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.432)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.432)

  10. Interview with Vera Searle / Interviewer: Joan Durdin
    Searle, Vera, 1915-
    [ Sound : 1993 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.425)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.425)

More...

Resources about Joan Durdin (1)

  1. Interview with Joan Durdin / Interviewer: Lorraine Thomas
    Durdin, Joan, 1922-
    [ Sound : 1993 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.909)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.909)

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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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  1. Joan Durdin oration paper series
    University of Adelaide. Dept. of Clinical Nursing
    [ Periodical : 1995-2005 ]
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  2. They also signed the petition: nursing pioneers of the 1890s
    Durdin, Joan
    Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia
    [ Article : 1994 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
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  3. Oral history: a resource for nursing history. -Paper presented to the Oral History Association of Australia Conference (1987: New South Wales )-
    Durdin, Joan
    Oral History Association of Australia Journal
    [ Article : 1987 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.127)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.127)

  4. The place of oral history in nursing
    Durdin, Joan
    Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
    [ Article : 1984 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.127)

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  1. Interview with Victor Carpenter / Interviewer: Dr Joan Durdin
    Carpenter, Victor, 1919-
    [ Sound : 2001 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

  1. Caroline : a family story / Joan Durdin
    Durdin, Joan
    [ Book : 2008 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.608)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.608)

  2. And nursing became ... : inaugural Joan Durdin oration / Sandra Speedy
    Speedy, Sandra
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At 3 libraries
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.122)

  3. On nursing and universities / Alison Tierney
    Tierney, Alison J
    [ Book : 2005 ]
    At 5 libraries
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  4. Still me : twelve women talk about ageing / edited by Tina Koch, Merilyn Annells and Marina Brown
    Koch, Tina
    [ Book : 1999 ]
    At 50 libraries
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  1. Kilkenny Competitions
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) Tuesday 29 June 1943 p 3 Article
    ... Turner. 83. Australian sons (under 18i. Joan Williamson. 82; Violet Harper. 81: Ustelle Kltson. 80 Vocal solo, ladies' test piece tsenlori. Dora Sneppard, 83: * Margaret Bucklnsnam, 11; Dawn Durdin, ... 58 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) Tuesday 15 April 1947 p 14 Family Notices
    ... Such). - On April 12, at McBride's, to Joan and Stan - a daugh ter (Judith Ellen). Thanking Dr. Dong ... to Elsie and Cliff - a son (Dennis Graham ) SMITH. - At Memorial Hospital, to Joan STANES-- On ... vending, solemnised at the Parkside I Methodist Church on April 15. 1922. The |R»r. Norman Smith ... 7462 words
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  3. Final Concerts By Pupils Of Mr. Treunery
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) Thursday 14 December 1939 p 14 Article
    ... Dudley Smith, Winnie Young, Antonette de Gilio, Joan Trus ler, Lyall Jonas, Edna Townley, Mavis Pamell, ... ('cello), Rosalind Litchfield (recitation), Harold Durdin (vocal), Irillian Duncan d'ocal), and the accom panists, Mona Hopkins, Gwen Paul and Dawn Durdin. Another programme will be presented at the final ... 126 words
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