Unmasked, an exhibition highlighting the experience of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, is on display at Her Place Women's Museum in East Melbourne from the 4th of March to the 1st of April.

Initially scheduled to coincide with International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the exhibition, sponsored by the Victorian Government and supported by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, was postponed due to COVID-19.

The exhibition draws on 230 years of history, riding the social and political changes that shaped the nation as nurses and midwives lifted the veil and took on leadership.

Exhibition curators include independent historian Dr Madonna Grehan, a former nurse and midwife, and Associate Professor Odette Best of the Wakun clan of the Gorreng Gorreng, Boonthamurra, and Yugameh Nation. Professor Best is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southern Queensland.

In this, the first complete nurses and midwives’ exhibition, patrons will appreciate how nurses faced disease, discrimination, wars, and COVID-19 and discover how nursing might look in the future.

Twelve practitioners feature as past and present exemplars of their profession, including fierce advocates like Margaret ’Gretta' Lynons, pioneers like Florence Green, innovators such as Michelle Spence and Ruby Tribe and military nurses including Marianne Rawson. 

"Through a historical and contemporary lens, the exhibition shines a light on nursing and midwifery work in all its diversity and exposes the reality that nurses and midwives are the backbone of the healthcare system," says ANMF Victorian Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick.

Mary Delahunty, Chair and Co-Founder, Her Place Women's Museum Australia, is excited to unveil this important exhibition celebrating nurses and midwives in their new gallery space.

"Unmasked pays tribute to our nurses and midwives uncovering hidden stories and surprising roles of nurses and midwives. With this exhibition, we open to the public our new home at the historic Clarendon Terrace in East Melbourne," says Ms Delahunty. 

Her Place Women's Museum Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates all Australian women's social, civic and entrepreneurial achievements and their role in shaping our nation.

As a national museum dedicated to women, Her Place Women's Museum honours the achievements of women through exhibitions, public programs, education resources and digital outreach.

Unmasked
Her Place Women's Museum Australia
208-210 Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, Victoria
2 March – 1 April 2021
Tuesday-Saturday 11 am - 4 pm
Book via herplacemuseum.com
FREE Entry