SOLDIER INVALIDS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 3 June 1919, Page 6

SOLDIER INVALIDS

DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL .TRAINING

CONFERENCE OF OFFICERS.

A conference of vocational officers was recently held in Wellington to consider many points which have arisen in connection with this important work among soldiers who are sick and disabled. As a result of a very valuable exchange or views, the work of the Educational and Vocational Training Branch of the Defence Department will receive great impetus, and its operations will be extended. Six months ago no vocational training was given in hospitals, although'two lady instructors bad been engaged by the medical authorities to teach occupational work such as basket-making and leather work in the institutions under the Defence Department's control. It was to ensure that soldiers in hospital should ba given, not only to occupational instruction but also vocational training prior to their discharge that the special branch was set up, under tho control of a Director of Vocational Training. The staff has already grown to over fifty, and as new demands for instruction come forward it is being steadily increased. Workshops have been provided at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Trentham, Christchurch, Hanmer, Timaru, Dimedin, and Invercargill. Funds for this purpose and for the provision of equipment have been provided by the New Zealand Red Cross Society, -which devotes itself to the welfare of the sick and wounded soldier. In these hospitals instructors have been appointed to teach trades suitable to hospital patients, .such as boot-repairing, carpentry, cabinet-making, motor-engi-neering, and business courses. In some hospitals instruction by way of lectures is also given in economics and civics. It has been found, however, that the soldiers prefer to interest themselves in vocational rather than educational work. It is the duty of the vocation officer to interview every soldier patient, and get him interested in his future civilian activities, and to start his training beforeleaving the hospital. When it is realised that there are 1302 patients at the hospitals in New Zealand, and that the outpatients number 1871, the magnitude of the task of interviewing is evident, and it was not surprising to find that all the vocation officers reported, that they were, overworked. Assistant vocation officers have now been appointed in Auckland and Christchurch, and similar appointments are to be made in:, Wellington and Dunedin. This extension of the staff will enable the branch to pay special attention to the needs of the soldier out-patients. It is the wish of the Minister of Defence that these patients should be trained in the same way as those undergoing,treatment as in-patients. Owing to the fact that they only get into touch with the vocation officer once or twice a week, when they come to the hospitals for medical attention, it is difficult to interview each man. " We are not going to allow the outpatients to drift," stated the Director of Educational and Vocational Training. " They will receive, not only medical attention, but help in the task of preparing for their future as useful civilians." All out-patients are to be interviewed by the vocation officers, who will advise them, as to the best training for civilian positions, and encourage them to take advantage of the educational facilities provided by the Department. The relations of the Educational and Vocational Training Branch with the- Repatriation Department, which looks after the soldier upon discharge, were fully considered at the conference. ■ A representative of the Director of Repatriation and the Secretary of the Repatriation Board attended a' sitting of the conference, and it was decided to co-ordinate the work so that the men who have been trained while undergoing medical treatment may continue their education after discharge under the direction of the Repatriation Department.. It has been a difficult and delicate task to introduce vocational training into the hospitals, for soldier invalids, like the average. civilian, are disinclined to take up new activities during the restful period of convalescence. Useful occupation plays an important part in winning strength and a cheerful mental outlook, and for this reason alone is a factor of great value. The soldier's future as a civilian is the subject of the Defence Department's anxious concern, therefore the vocation officers: —carefully selected from the ranks of returned, men, with a knowledge of their outlook and a keen desire to help their old comrades —strive to interest them in their life after _ discharge when they enter the competitive arena outside. They have to overcome the disinclination of the convalescent to undertake any active work, and they often have to overcome his feeling- ot hopelessness in regard to the future. _ The work was commenced without the aid of stimulus of precedent, but the conference showed that it is now well -established, that the bulk of-the soldiers appreciate what is being done for them, a.nd as a result the soldier will leave hospital heir ter equipped for civilian responsibilities than before the Educational and Vocational Branch was established.