About this Project

This database is a public resource containing a vast amount of Australia-wide information about the history of psychiatric institutions, the legislation governing psychiatric care, medical treatments, mental health policy and the sources essential to the investigation of these topics. Excellent studies have been published in the past of some individual psychiatric institutions, of particular medical practitioners and of the policies pursued in various of the Australian colonies or states, but such works have in the main lacked a national context and perspective. A truly national history of mental health services is yet to be written. This project thus marks a major step in the direction of telling the story of psychiatric care throughout Australia from its beginnings.

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