From her experience in the educational field, Miss Robinson, early on, became aware of the importance of integrating vocational training and guidance with the education system and of linking the employment, professional and business activities which students proposed to pursue when they left school with their general education programme.
That she should be appointed the first vocational guidance officer for girls followed on naturally from her role as careers adviser at the Christchurch Technical College
Miss Robinson was aware that there was little in the way of employment opportunities for the mentally and physically disabled pupils.
But she recognised they had the potential, within any limits imposed by their disability, to undertake work. Further, that once involved - along with the self confidence and their abilities which this could generate - the likelihood was that the standard of their skills, abilities and proficiency would steadily improve as well. In the longer term this would enable some, at least, to enter the workforce on their own merits. Miss Robinson also believed that their experience through associating with others, initially at least, in a sheltered employment environment would have a beneficial psychological impact on them and - as well as boosting their self-confidence - would also motivate them to attempt to do even better still - and with every prospect of their succeeding
Also that in the longer term, special skills and techniques appropriate for the particular type of employment would be developed and built up, improving productivity, enabling greater output to be achieved with less effort and gradually closing the gap in performance between the disabled and other workers
Miss Robinson discussed her views with a wide variety of professional and interested people in Canterbury. She engendered sufficient support to initiate the establishment of the Canterbury Sheltered Workshop Association (CSWA) over 50 years ago. It had humble beginnings with building loaned by CCS and with voluntary unpaid staff for the first 5 years. The first industrial contract was given to the organisation by Suckling Bros and attendees (known as Trainees) wanted to do craft work. Typically Miss Robinson insisted that this work had to be of a high standard and be able to be sold at a worthy price. Her volunteers were very proficient persons with high craft/weaving skills.
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Demands for the service grew rapidly and eventually the Government made available to 3 organisations, CSWA, CCS and the IHC, a piece of land adjacent to the railway line in Riccarton. CCS decided to stand alone while the CSWA and IHC formed a Trust and shared a purpose-built building. When I was appointed to my current position in 1981, having been a volunteer and a supervisor, this was the situation.
