About CMS
Canberra Mothercraft Society has been supporting families of young children living in Canberra and the surrounding region since 1926. It is one of Canberra’s longest-running organisations and was the first to provide primary health services to families in the Australian Capital Territory.
Its achievements include establishing maternal and child health clinics, occasional care centres and home help services for mothers and babies in Canberra. Once established, many of these new services became organisations in their own right or were taken over by the ACT Government.
Its most ambitious undertaking was to establish and run the Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre. Initially established to provide post-natal care for mothers and babies, it expanded its services over time to include a broader range of residential care and support for babies, toddlers and their parents. QEII prospered under CMS stewardship for 56 years until 1 July 2019 when it was handed over to the ACT Government.
CMS is now building on its proud history to play a key role in setting the agenda for health and community development services for families with young children, and supporting new initiatives that strengthen the wellbeing of those families. CMS will achieve its aims through partnering with like-minded organisations. CMS partners with organisations that have local, national and international reach.
CMS is an incorporated association and is registered as a charitable entity by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
Our Vision
Healthy families through:
Thriving Mothers, Thriving Babies.
Ija Mulanggari, Goodtha Mulanggari (Ngunnawal language).
Our Mission
To support and influence the delivery of comprehensive policies and services for the well-being of women and families in the pre-natal and early years.
Our Values
We value:
the use of reliable evidence as the foundation for policy development and service delivery;
primary health care focused on achieving physical, emotional and psychological well-being and strengthening family resilience;
close links to the community;
respect for individuals and cultural differences; and
strong leadership as a good community organisation.
Our History
They questioned and they challenged in the interest of women, children and their families. They were brave and stood firm when voices proposed a diminution of services. They loved the families enough to seek family-centred solutions in a dynamic and often confusing time. They remained pure of heart and humbled by the privilege and honour of working with women, children and their families. They were right for their time; and their legacy is that they prepared us to be right for our time.
Mary Kirk AM
Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Executive Officer, Canberra Mothercraft Society (1996-2019)
Historical Timeline
27 October 1926
Women’s and Infants Health Society of the Federal Capital Territory held their first meeting at the Causeway Hall. Mrs Shelton was elected President by ballot.
31 January 1927
The name of the Society was changed to The Canberra Mothercraft Society at a General Meeting held a Telopea Park School, as moved by Lady Butters (wife of then Chief Commissioner, Federal Capital Commission).
23 February 1927
At a General Meeting at Acton Hall, Mrs Doris Duffield was elected president of the Eastlake subcommittee.
2 March 1927
The inaugural Mothercraft Ball, the first fundraising event of the Society, was held at the Kurrajong Hotel.
9 May 1927
The day was heralded Mothercraft Day by the Society as they continued fundraising efforts for the first Baby Health Clinic of the new capital.
2 July 1927
Eastlake Baby Health Centre, the first mothercraft clinic, was officially opened by Lady Butters in a cottage on Jardine Street, Eastlake (now Kingston).
1928
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Corroboree Park Hall in Ainslie.
24 April 1928
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Molonglo.
1929
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established for Defence families at R.M. Duntroon.
30 August 1933
CMS opened Civic Mothercraft Clinic from a room in the Canberra Times Building, Cooyong Street, Braddon.
1936
A monthly Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Tharwa Public Hall
10 February 1936
Home health visiting began for babies from 15 months to school age.
1937
Mothercraft Sub-clinics were established at Hall Village, Westlake Hall and Westridge Hall (Yarralumla).
1938
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Oaks Estate.
1938
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at the Causeway Hall.
1941
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at HMAS Belconnen.
1941
CMS trialled the Mothercraft Baby Minder’s Scheme but it ceased after four months because of staffing issues.
1941
CMS triallled the Mothercraft Home Assistants Scheme but is ceased after just months of operation due to staffing issues. The initiative was revived by the National Council of Women in 1947 and called the Emergency Housekeeper Service. It is now called Home Help.
1942
Canberra’s first public Playgroup was established at Griffith Child Welfare Centre.
1947
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at HMAS Harman.
31 January 1948
Canberra Civic Mothercraft Clinic was opened (replacing the clinic run from the room at the Canberra Times building).
25 October 1948
CMS Opened Civic Occasional Care Centre at the Canberra Civic Mothercraft Clinic.
1949
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at RAAF Fairbairn.
1950
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Throsby Crescent, Griffith.
1951
Ainslie Child Health Clinic opened at Wakefield Gardens.
1953
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Turner.
1954
CMS opened Yarralumla Child Health Clinic, Narrabundah Child Health Clinic and O’Connor Child Health Clinic, as well as a sub-clinic at West Deakin.
1956
Mothercraft Sub-clinics were established at Fyshwick, North Ainslie Primary School and North O’Connor.
1958
A Mothercraft Sub-clinic was established at Campbell.
June 1958
North O’Connor Baby Health Clinic and Occasional Care Centre opened.
May 1959
Deakin Child Health Clinic opened.
1960
CMS opened Child Health Clinics in Dickson, Lyneham and Campbell.
February 1962
Red Hill Child Health Clinic opened.
January 1963
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Home for Post Natal Care was opened on Alinga Street, Civic.
March 1963
Manuka Child Health Clinic and Manuka Occasional Care Centre were opened (replacing the Griffith Child Welfare Centre).
June 1963
Downer Child Health Clinic opened.
November 1963
Strickland Cres (Deakin) Child Health Clinic opened.
March 1964
Child Health Clinics opened at Hughes and Watson.
November 1965
Hackett Child Health Clinic opened.
1966
Child Health Clinics opened at Curtin and Lyons.
1967
Child Health Clinics opened at Curtin North and Chifley, as well as a sub-clinic at Wreck Bay, Jervis Bay Territory.
1968
Child Health Clinics opened at Macquarie, Mawson, Pearce, Torrens and Garran, as well as a sub-clinic at Page.
1 July 1969
All Mothercraft (Child Health) Clinics were handed over to the ACT Government for management (now called Maternal and Child Health Clinics).
1 November 1973
Canberra Mothercraft Society handed all Occasional Care Services over to the ACT Government for management.
1989
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Home for Post Natal Care renamed QEII Hospital for Mothers and Babies.
30 June 1997
QEII moved from its original location in Civic to its new home on Carruthers Street in Curtin and renamed Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre.
2003
CMS ran two programs for Grandparents “Becoming a Grandparent” and “Grandparents caring for Grandchildren” at QEII.
20 March 2004
CMS ran a Parenting Symposium called “Living, Laughing, Loving” at QEII.
2005
CMS ran the Grand Jugglers Program with Warehouse Circus, a program for children being raised by their Grandparents
2006
The Relaxing into Parenting and Baby Makes 3 program began, in partnership with Relationships Australia for couples expecting their first child. The program was run by CMS until 2019 when it was handed over to Relationships Australia.
1 July 2019
After 56 years, CMS handed the QEII Family Centre over to the ACT Government. Tresillian currently holds the contract for running the service.
