Heavily starched collar for nurse's ward dress : Australian Army Nursing Service

White cotton detachable collar with rounded ends and a single stud closure designed to be worn with an Australian Army Nursing Service ward dress. The inside of the collar is marked 'THE NURSE 15M' in black lettering.

This collar is an example of part of the ward uniform worn by members of the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD), who worked in Australian military hospitals and convalescent homes as ward assistants (nursing aides) during the First World War. A white apron with a red cross in the centre of the bib top would have been worn over it.

Unlike British VADs, who worked in hospitals in France and Belgium, in the capacity of junior staff nurses, Australian VADs worked within Australia only, usually in an unpaid capacity. Although they received training in first aid they were not trained nurses. Much of the work undertaken by Australian VADs involved fund raising activities for the Red Cross and support for returning soldiers. They also drove ambulances. In these latter roles they wore a different white uniform, with an open neck, together with a broad brimmed white hat.