The original Gabriel Baby Centre was established by Joan Salter in 1976. Joan had previously worked for 25 years as a maternal and child health nurse in Melbourne, having been employed by the Victorian Department of Health to establish a Maternal and Child Welfare Service (as it was then known) in the Migrant Hostels.
Joan gained enormously from this experience and during this time studying Anthroposophy – a spiritual path developed by Rudolf Steiner. She recognized that there was much in this philosophy that could be applied to the practical task of bringing up children, and it was out of this impulse that she developed the Gabriel Baby Centre in her home, describing the Gabriel work “as an art of a parenthood based on an understanding of man’s true being”.
In practical terms this means a consideration of the child’s environment; nurture and nourishment (particularly breast feeding and fresh home cooked foods); growth patterns and developmental milestones; and day to day activities such as bathing, play, providing suitable clothing, books and toys. The utmost importance is placed on the infant’s need for warmth, rhythm and nourishing tactile experiences in the early months.
Joan felt this approach would appeal especially to those who consider that “there is more to life than what is offered by the materialistic outlook of our age”. This proved to be so and for the next 24 years the Gabriel Centre flourished. As well as private consultations, there was a study course for parents, doll making workshops and festival celebrations. In 1987 Joan’s book “The Incarnating Child” was published; the content of this is largely based on her Child Care course. The book continues to be in demand today.
In her later years Joan set up a Trust to fund and support the continuation of the Gabriel work. There are three trustees who are currently overseeing the new Gabriel Centre development supporting Bettye Palmer in this endeavour.
Bettye has taken up the challenge of bringing this work into the 21st century, ensuring its relevance for families today.