Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc.. (1922-)

Function
University club/society
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-720065

Biographies

The Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW) was formally established at the inaugural conference held in Sydney in September 1922. It is an umbrella organisation for the state-based Federations of University Women and provides a means for national organisation of these bodies. Amongst other things, the activities of the AFUW have involved the setting up of committees for special projects, the lobbying of Government departments, the presentation of submissions to Government and the holding of conferences, originally biennially but now triennially. The AFUW also administers a number of fellowships, which are awarded to further the studies of successful applicants. Over the years, the AFUW has been involved in a number of important issues relating to the education and employment of women. Activities have included campaigns to obtain equal pay and equal employment opportunities for women and to eliminate discrimination against women in both education and the workforce. In December 2009 the AFUW changed its name to the Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc. to better represent the broadening of the organisation's membership parameters.

In September 1920, graduate women in Sydney formed the Sydney University Women Graduates' Association (SUWGA). Other states were quick to respond. The University of Queensland Women Graduates' Association was established at a meeting in September 1920 and the Victorian Women Graduates' Association in November 1920. During 1920-21, graduate women in South Australia and Tasmania indicated an interest in linking up with their interstate counterparts in the formation of the AFUW.

The AFUW was formally established at the inaugural conference held in Sydney in September 1922, which was attended by 75 women, representing every state except Western Australia. Mrs Frances Thorn of the Victorian association was elected as AFUW's first President, with Mrs Muscio elected as Vice-President. The Western Australian Association of University Women was formed in 1923 and the Canberra Association of Women Graduates in the 1944.

The AFUW is a member association of the International Federation of University of Women (IFUW). Founded in London in 1919, the IFUW is the international federation of all the associations of university women of various countries, within which each constituent association has its own autonomy. At the first IFUW conference, held in London in 1920, the aim of the Federation was laid out in the Constitution as being 'To promote understanding and friendship between the university women of the nations of the world, and thereby to further their interests and develop between their countries sympathy and mutual helpfulness.' Miss Lousia Macdonald and Mrs Mildred Muscio were the Australian representatives at the first IFUW conference in London in1920, and it was soon after this that initiatives were taken in Australia to form an Australian association of the IFUW. Over the years, the IFUW has been involved in a number of initiatives related to improving the working and living conditions of women around the world. In addition to its involvement with women's issues specific to Australia, the AFUW also adopts IFUW initiatives and applies them at a national level.

At its peak in the 1930s, the Federatiosn' membership was some 6500, representing the great majority of all the women university graduates then living in Australia.

As of 2004 the FEderation decribed its objectives thus:

'Mission

AFUW is the voice of graduate women promoting the advancement of women worldwide and their equality of opportunity through initiatives in education, friendship and peace.

Aims

to unite the associations of women graduates in Australia for the furtherance of their common interests and for affiliation with IFUW to promote understanding and friendship among women of the world irrespective of their race, nationality, religion or political opinions to encourage international cooperation to further the development of education to represent university women in international organisations to encourage the full application of their knowledge and skills to The problems which arise at all levels of public life, whether national, regional or world-wide, and to encourage their participation in the solving of these problems

At the 1994 Triennial Conference in Queensland, the above Mission statement and Aims were ratified, and the Aims are now incorporated as Objects in our Rules of Association.

Focus

To identify and implement practical ways of ensuring gender equity at all levels of education, with special emphasis on supporting girls and women in accessing and completing higher education.'

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc..

Selected resources (22)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Women in Politics and History: a Guide to Manuscript Sources in Fryer Library
    Fryer Library
    [2009]
    Published: University of Queensland
    Series: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer/women.html
  2. AFUW conference papers.
    Australian Federation of University Women
    [2003-]
    Series: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/history/publications/AFUWPapers/index.html
  3. Employment opportunities for women : proceedings of the Seminar held at the University of New South Wales on 13th August, 1965.
    Seminar on Employment Opportunities for Women (1965 : University of New South Wales)
    [1965]
    Published: UNSW and N.S.W. Association of University Women Graduates
  4. Papers presented at the Diamond Jubilee Conference of the Australian Federation of University Women, Canberra 24-29 January 1982.
    Australian Federation of University Women. Diamond Jubilee Conference (1982 : Canberra, A.C.T.)
    [1982]
    Published: Australian Federation of University Women
  5. Lifelong learning : effecting change in a global society : seminar proceedings of the 31st Triennial Conference, Adelaide 17-20 April 2000
    Australian Federation of University Women. Conference (31st :, 2000 : Adelaide, S. Aust.)
    [2000]
    Published: Australian Federation of University Women
  6. Indigenous education and the social capital : influences on the performance of indigenous tertiary students
    Australian Federation of University Women. Conference, Roz Walker et al
    [1998?]
    Published: Black Swan Press
  7. Occasional paper
    Australian Federation of University Women
    [1924?-1930]
  8. Newsletter
    [1960-1991]
    Published: Australian Federation of University Women
  9. Bulletin
    [1934-1997]
    Published: Australian Federation of University Women
  10. By Degrees: A history of the Australian Federation of University Women 1922-1985
    Nash, Heather A.
    [1985]
    Published: Australian Federation of University Women
  11. "Polite lobbying": the Australian Federation of Women Voters and its allies in the Australian post-war women's movement.Citizenship, Women and Social Justice: International Historical Perspectives Damousi, Joy and Katherine Ellinghaus 204-216 : "Polite lobbying": the Australian Federation of Women Voters and its allies in the Australian post-war women's movement.
    Martin, Elaine
    [1999]
    Published: Department of History, University of Melbourne
  12. Degrees of liberation : a short history of women in the University of Melbourne
    Kelly, Farley
    [1985]
    Published: Women Graduates Centenary Committee, University of Melbourne
  13. Australian Feminism: A Companion
    Caine, Barbara
    [1998]
    Published: Oxford University Press
  14. Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections, University of Queensland: Australian Federation of University Women: Records 1920-2004 (1920 - 2004)
    Papers mainly related to the 15th I.F.U.W. Conference in Brisbane in 1965, arranged in the following order: correspondence, working papers relating to the organisation of the conference, papers and programmes. Also included are A.F.U.W. newsletters, minutes of meetings, annual reports, financial records and correspondence. Inventory List available
    UQFL176
  15. Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales: Kathleen Sherrard Papers (1918 - 1975)
    Contents include notes on her life and activities, and list of scientific papers, prepared by H. N. Sherrard, and genealogical notes on her family. Papers comprise works by K. Sherrard, including draft on an autobiography, imaginative and scientific writings, diaries, correspondence, much relating to overseas travel, and papers relating to her many community activities, particularly involving the United Associations of Women and the Australian Federation of University Women.
    ML MSS 2950
  16. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Records of The Australian Federation of University Women (1922 - 2000)
    Administrative records of the Australian Federation of University Women comprising minutes of Council and committee meetings, committee papers, correspondence, membership lists, conference reports, financial papers and publications of the AFUW, the International Federation of University Women and various national associations.
    MS 9592
  17. Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales: Eleanor M. Hinder - papers, 1837-1963, together with the papers of A. Viola Smith, ca. 1850-1975 (1850 - 1975)
    Contents : I. PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1923-1963 II. PROFESSIONAL FILES, ca. 1919-1963 A. Farmer and Company, ca. 1919-1926 B. Young Women's Christian Association of China, 1896, 1927-1937 C. Pan-Pacific Women's Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii (1928), 1928-1929 D. Employers' Federation of Shanghai, 1931-1945 E. Shanghai (China). Municipal Council, 1933-1954 F. International Labour Office, 1942-1948 G. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1934-1952 H. Great Britain. Foreign Office, 1944-1954 I. Board of Trustees and Rehabilitation Affairs, 1947-1950 J. United Nations, 1937, 1949-1963 III. SUBJECT FILES, 1918-1975 A. Individuals, 1924-1963 B. Organisations, 1951-1971 C. Miscellaneous, 1918-1975 IV. WRITINGS, 1927-1963 A. Autobiography and related papers, 1957-1963 B. Other writings, 1927, 1945, 1952-1959 V. GENEALOGICAL PAPERS, 1837-1970 A. Hinder family, 1837-1970 B. Tuckerman family, 1952-1966 VI. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, 1914-1974 VII. PAPERS OF AND CONCERNING AGATHA HARRISON, 1916-1962 VIII. PRINTED BOOKS, 1837-1970 IX. PHOTOGRAPHS AND REALIA, 1916-1968 X. PAPERS OF A. VIOLA SMITH, ca. 1850-1975 A. Hinder family genealogy and chronology B. Correspondence concerning Hinder family genealogy C. Genealogical subject files - Hinder family - Paternal line D. Genealogical subject files - Hinder family - Maternal line E. Genealogical subject files - Tuckerman family F. Subject files - Organisations G. Subject files concerning Eleanor Hinder's immediate family H. Miscellaneous personal papers I. Papers concerning the estate of Eleanor Hinder
    MLMSS 770
  18. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Crisp, Helen Papers, [manuscript] (1939 - 1983)
    Papers relating to various organisations with which Helen Crisp was associated, including the Child Welfare Committee, National Council of Women, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Australian Federation of University Women, ACT Health Commission, Australian Consumers' Association and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Other files contain material on women in the Commonwealth Public Service, child care, home economics, women's education, technical education and health services.
    MS 7593
  19. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Interview with Elma Sandford-Morgan [sound recording] Interviewer: Aileen Bond (1982)
    Adelaide Lyceum Club Oral History Dr Elma Sandford Morgan was born in 1890 in North Adelaide and brought up in a Baptist household. Attended Miss Martin's school. At 14 her family sailed to Europe amd Elma went to Cheltenham's Ladies College for a year as a boarder. She returned to Adelaide in 1905. She studied piano at the Adelaide Conservatorium under Herr Reimann. She travelled with her family around Australia and in Queensland she met a doctor who suggested she do medicine. 1910 studied medicine at Sydney University. Studied for three years, then went with her family on a trip from China across the Siberian railway to Moscow. She graduated in 1917. She worked in Australia, London and at the Women's Mission Hospital at Bewanee in the Punjab. Then in 1920 went to a hospital in Bagdad. Here she married Captain Harry Morgan and their daughter Rosemary was born in 1922. Son Gavin was born in 1925. Eventually settled in Sydney and she worked at the Rachel Forster Hospital. 1928 appointed Assistant to the Director of Maternal Welfare in the Public Health Department, and in 1929 first woman to become Director of Maternal Welfare in the Public Health Service. She was a district commissioner in the Girl Guides and a representative to the Australian Federation of University Women. Moved to South Australia as a Health Officer with the Mothers and Babies Association and helped set up Torrens House, a mothercraft training centre. During World War II joined the RAAN as a medical officer, was working in general practice, and for two years organised the Health Services of South Asutralia as the only woman member of the Parliamentary Commission. After the war she visited Europe and on return obtained a locum tenens as neoplasm registrar to the Anti-Cancer Foundation. She was appointed by the University of Adelaide to the Radio Therapy Department where she worked for eleven years. Retired in 1964 and then worked at the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service until she was 80 years old. During 1966-68 she attended the Medical Women's International Association conferences in Rochester and Vienna and became president of the Australian Medical Women's Association to work against bias according to sex and equal treatment of women doctors. Her main interest was preventative medicine and public health.
    SRG 438/29/30
  20. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Jessie Street (1914 - 1968)
    1. Personal and family correspondence, 1914-1967. 2. Personal documents (1934-1967) and other papers. 3. Drafts and other papers re Street's autobiography "Truth or repose" (1966). 4. Papers re Street's feminist activities, 1916-1968, including the United Associations of Women. Correspondents include Bessie Rischbieth, Irene Greenwood, Linda Littlejohn and Robert Menzies. 5. Material re the peace movement, 1931-1966. 6. Papers re the United Nations, 1945-1966, including material on the UN Commission for the Status of Women. 7. Papers re Street's membership of the Australian Labor Party, attempts to gain election to Federal Parliament and subsequent resignation from the Party because of her refusal to abandon her pro-Soviet stance. 8. Papers re Street's interest in and numerous visits to the Soviet Union. Includes material on the Australian Soviet Friendship Society (1946-1968), the Russian Medical Aid and Comforts Committee (1941-1945). 9. Papers re Women's Forum for Social and Economic Reconstruction (1941-1945); Immigration Advisory Committee (1940s); and National Social Insurance (1930-1952). 10. Papers re Aboriginal rights and race relations, mostly 1956-1968, including the 1967 Aboriginal Referendum.
    MS 2683
  21. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Papers of the Mayo family (1904 - 1965)
    Papers of the Mayo family comprising correspondence, biographical notes, addresses, papers relating to Mothers and Babies Health Association, St. Ann's College and the Australian Federation of University Women of Dr Helen Mayo, correspondence, biographical notes, addresses and publications of Professor Elton Mayo, papers relating to John Christian Mayo, correspondence of Sir Herbert Mayo and papers of Mary Penelope Mayo.
    PRG 127
  22. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Joyce McConnell (1960 - 1989)
    The papers relate to her membership of the National Council of Women of Australia, National Women's Advisory Council, National Women's Consultative Council, Federation of University Women, and International Council of Women. Includes reference files, correspondence, minutes, speeches, press clippings and articles.
    MS 8260

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