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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware this website contains images, voices and names of people who have died.

Studio portrait of a pregnant woman

The first Australian maternity allowance was introduced on 10 October 1912. As of that date, married and single women who had given birth received £5 to cover the cost of medical care for themselves and their babies.

Indigenous women and those from Asian or Pacific Island backgrounds were not eligible for the payment.

Source

State Library of Victoria

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