Patricia Cosh

Patricia Cosh

Patricia Cosh undertook physiotherapy at the Physiotherapy School in Melbourne from 1942 to the end of 1944. She worked as a clinical physiotherapist in a variety of public hospital and private practice roles from 1945 to 1957, when she began as a part-time assistant lecturer in the School.

In 1960, she became the full-time Director of Studies for the physiotherapy program in Victoria. When she took on this role, she aimed to secure a permanent home for the School of Physiotherapy, raise funds to enhance the school, elevate the educational standards to degree level, and develop postgraduate programs. She met with Dr. J. Lindell, Chairman of the Hospital and Charities Commission, and Dr. R. Farnbach, Chief Medical Officer of the Public Health Division, who were supportive of her plans.

Dulcie Goode, head of Occupational Therapy, and Ruth King, head of Speech Therapy, learned about her initiative and suggested they work together to find better educational facilities. Starting in 1963, they collaborated with an architect to outline their needs and lobbied the Government for appropriate space.

In 1965 the Davies Coop building in Swanston Street became Lincoln House for the three separate schools, and the Government converted the factory into an educational establishment.

That year the Federal Government’s Martin Committee stated that tertiary education outside universities should be within colleges, and the Victorian Government established the Victorian Institute of Colleges. The Commonwealth Government allocated money for the development of these colleges. The Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences was formed in 1972.

Pat played a major role in its development. By 1976, Pat’s title became Head of the School of Physiotherapy at Lincoln Institute, with the responsibility for the course coming under the auspices of the Victorian Institute of Colleges.

After a protracted period of negotiation, physiotherapy became eligible for the Victorian Institute of Colleges Degree of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), when departments of behavioural science and biological science became available. The bachelor programs were accepted in 1972.

The Victorian Institute of Colleges granted a 3.5 year programme to physiotherapy (which Joan McMeeken formally converted to four years when she was Head of School at Lincoln). Despite the reluctance of the Board of the Institute, physiotherapy began developing post graduate studies, and eventually discipline specific postgraduate diplomas and Masters programmes were accepted.

Patricia Cosh dedicated much of her life to advancing physiotherapy both locally and internationally. In 1986, she retired from Lincoln but continued to hold important positions in the field, including Chairman of the Physiotherapists’ Registration Board, National Coordinator for the Bridging Program for the Australian Examining Council for Overseas Physiotherapists, and a consultant for physiotherapy services for the frail aged with the Melbourne City Council.