What do we remember about Polio?
A black-and-white, vintage-style photograph captures a moment of a young woman receiving an injection in her upper arm from a man dressed in a light-colored coat or medical uniform.
Poliomyelitis as a case study in Australian health histories
This talk presents early findings from Professor Catharine Coleborne's new research into the Australian experience of poliomyelitis (polio) in the middle of the twentieth century. It examines what we know about polio’s history and considers public awareness of polio in the 1950s and 1960s through promotional leaflets and publications produced by community organisations dedicated to the care of children and families living with polio in New South Wales. Cathy pays particular attention to the way public health knowledge was disseminated by the Health Division of the NSW Department of Health, as well as the strategies deployed by the Poliomyelitis Society in educating the public about polio through their community advocacy and support work.
Cathy will also present some specific examples of how we might remember polio in the context of putting together an exhibition about histories of health and medicine in Newcastle and the region. She will point to gaps in the existing scholarship about polio in Australia, and the potential of new approaches to polio in a ‘health history’ framework that pays attention to public health to demonstrate the value of historical research to public health humanities.
Event Information
- Date: Wednesday 18 March 2026 from 10:30am - 11:30am
- Location: Room L326, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.