The Australian Women's Register

Voluntary Aid Detachments were established during World War I by members of the Australian Red Cross and the Order of St John. Members received instruction in first aid and home nursing from the St John Ambulance Association. Initially they worked without pay in hospitals and convalescent homes alongside doctors and nurses. After the war the voluntary service continued. Recruits were drawn from the local area by invitation from a serving member. During the World War II Voluntary Aid Detachment members were given more medical training, but they were not fully qualified nurses. Voluntary Aides worked in convalescent hospitals, on hospital ships and in the blood bank, as well as on the home front.

In New South Wales Voluntary Aid Detachments are now part of the Voluntary Aid Service Corps (VASC). To become a member of the Corps, volunteers must hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate. Members provide free first aid at major sporting and cultural events as well as assistance in times of disaster.

Following discharge from the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) ex-members expressed a desire to keep in contact. In 1946 the WAAAF Branch of the RAAF Association (Victoria Division) was established with this purpose in mind. Their main aim was to provide a meeting place for ex WAAAF to gather and share experiences and help with the transition from service to civilian life.

The Carlton Refuge was established in 1854 with the aim of reforming prostitutes through a combination of prayer and hard work, which usually meant laundry work. As some prostitutes were also mothers, the care of single mothers became a way of fulfilling its primary goal. By 1860 its role had changed to accepting young unmarried women on their discharge from hospital and by 1880 the major part of the Refuge’s work was with those women. Declining demand and alternative means of care brought about its closure in 1949.

The Council of Action for Equal Pay (CAEP) functioned as a single issue pressure group with affiliates from trade unions and women’s organisations. Its primary aim was to agitate for the implementation of equal pay through the dissemination of information and to support individual organisations in their fight for equal pay. Its formation marked the first conscious movement for equal pay in Australia. Muriel Heagney, a strong advocate of ‘the rate for the job’ was influential in its establishment and was the driving force of the organisation as its honorary secretary-treasurer from 1939 until its demise.

In response to the perceived needs of the ‘deserving poor’, the Melbourne Ladies Benevolent Society (MLBS) began operations as the Presbyterian Female Visiting Society in August 1845. By 1851, it was known as the MLBS, and retained that name until 1964, when it became the Melbourne Ladies’ Welfare Society. The Society supplied food, clothing and other necessities to the respectable poor at home, particularly women in the Fitzroy and surrounding areas. The MLBS was acknowledged as Melbourne’s principal relieving agency and played a major role in dispensing social service benefits until the 1940s, when the Commonwealth Government assumed a greater responsibility for social welfare.

Officially founded in 1902, with Janet Lady Clarke as president, and continuing today, the National Council of Women of Victoria is an umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated Victorian women’s groups. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. Like all National Councils of Women, it operates though a standing committee system whereby specific issues are brought before the Council and, if there is general agreement that a question should be taken up, a subcommittee is established to investigate the matter.
Until the 1940s at least, the Council was a major focal point for women’s activism.

Its initial aims were:
1. To establish a bond of union between the various affiliated societies.
2. To advance the interests of women and children and of humanity in general.
3. To confer on questions relating to the welfare of the family, the State and the Commonwealth.’

While encompassing a diverse range of organisations, the Council emerged as a largely middle-class women’s organisation especially in terms of its office bearers.

Although not always an overtly feminist organisation, the NCWV drew on the conviction that women had a special contribution to make to public life and the formulation of social policy. They were thus concerned with a wide array of social reform issues** as well as those more directly related to the legal and social status of women. It also drew on notions of gender unity and international sisterhood.

[Kate Gray, ‘The Acceptable Face of Feminism: the National Council of Women, 1902-1918’, MA thesis, University of Melbourne, 1988.]

The National Council of Women of Queensland is an umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated Queensland women’s groups. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government.

Its aims are:
• ‘To unite associations and societies of women, or of men and women, into an organisation for mutual counsel and co-operation.
• To advance the interests of humanity, and to confer in questions relating to the welfare of the family, State and Commonwealth.
• To join with the National Councils of Women of other Australian States and Territories to form the National Council of Women of Australia which, in turn, is a member of the International Council of Women. (ICW)’

Founded in 1939, with Mrs Henrietta (Jessie) Daley as president, the National Council of Women of the Australian Capital Territory operates as an umbrella organisation for women’s groups in the Territory. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government.

Its eight initial affiliated societies were the Canberra Mothercraft Society, Canberra Relief Society, St John’s Church of England Ladies Guild, Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild, Canberra community Hospital Auxiliary, Canberra Croquet Club, Women’s Hockey Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was another early member.

Some of its earliest issues of concern included censorship of films shown to children; offensive advertising; liquor trade reform; misbehaviour at the local swimming pool and the better provision of housing and other facilities in Canberra.

It was centrally involved in the foundation of institutions and services including the District Nursing Service, the Council of Social Service (ACT), the Child Guidance Clinic as well as services for the elderly.

It is affiliated with the National Council of Women Australia.

The Temporary Teachers’ Club was formed in October 1955 in response to pressure from the increasing numbers of qualified married women teachers who felt that marriage should not be a bar to permanent employment in the Victorian state teaching service. As a section of the Victorian Teachers’ Union, it maintained pressure on that organisation to negotiate with the Victorian Government to legislate for the removal of the marriage bar. It could claim qualified success when appropriate legislation was passed in October 1956.

The National Council for the Single Mother and her Child (NCSMC), established in 1973, evolved from the Victorian based Council for the Single Mother and her Child, which was formed in 1970 to advocate on behalf of single mothers and their children. Embracing the concept of self-help, it campaigned successfully for the introduction of a Supporting Mothers’ Benefit, and supported single mothers who kept their children. The national body campaigned to abolish the legal construct of illegitimacy and to establish family courts to deal with affiliation proceedings and maintenance and custody rights. It continues to fight for the essential rights of all sole parent families.

Incorporated as an association in October 1985 the Australian Women’s Army Service Association (Victoria) Inc. was originally established during the 1950’s. At that time a loose-knit group of ex-service members of the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS), under the leadership of Colonel Sybil Irving MBE, formed a Re-union committee.

The Association still follows the initial aims of the committee which are to arrange reunions and to further the fellowship and interests of ex-service members of the Australian Women’s Army Service, the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps and the female members of the Australian Military Forces.

Each August the Association conducts a reunion luncheon. Also a group known as the R & R Group arrange a monthly outing – usually to some place of interest followed by lunch that is easily accessed by public transport. Four times a year all financial members receive a newsletter, which disseminates information regarding outings, financial matters etc.

The AWAS Association (Vic.) was a leader in the formation of the Council of Ex-Servicewomen’s Associations (Vic.) Inc., bringing delegates from all the war-time women’s services together with the peace-time services.

Australian Women’s Army Service Association (WA) Inc. was formed in Perth, Western Australia 1947. It was originally established to extend welfare assistance, promote social gatherings and foster goodwill to former members of the Australian Women’s Army Service, especially by way of annual reunions. As the need arose the Association become involved with pension and aged care assistance.

The Women Justices’ Association of Victoria was formed in Melbourne on 30 June 1938 with the aim of uniting women justices, women special magistrates and women commissioners for the taking of affidavits throughout Victoria, all honorary appointments, ‘in a bond of mutual help and support’. It worked to increase the number of appointments of women and to encourage those women to exercise their privileges. It remained active until 1971 when declining numbers, the result of fewer women available for voluntary work, forced it reconsider its role. In 1972 it reformed to become the Australian branch of the International Association of Youth Magistrates.

The Women Principals Association (Victoria), as it was known from the late 1960s, was formed in July 1940 as the Association of Head Mistresses of Girls’ Schools. Its membership comprised the Head Mistresses of the thirteen government girls’ schools in existence at that time. It aimed ‘to discuss topics of general educational interest and particularly matters bearing directly on girls’ schools and their organisation’. It advocated strongly for the interests of students in girls’ schools to ensure that they enjoyed the same conditions and opportunities as students in boys or co-educational high schools. In the 1970s it vigorously defended the retention of girls’ schools in the state education system.

The Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS), the pioneer medical women’s organisation in Australia, was founded in 1896 as the Women’s Medical Association, at the University of Melbourne Medical School. It was established to forge a closer relationship between medical women graduates and undergraduates and to promote the interests of medical women and further their professional development by education, research and improvement of professional opportunities.
By 1898 it had evolved into a postgraduate society, with meetings held in the consulting rooms of members. In 1927 it formed part of the Australian Federation of Medical Women. It continues to promote the health and welfare of all Australians, in particular women and children.

It promotes the health and welfare of all Australians, in particular women and children.

The National Council of Women of Western Australia was founded in 1911, largely due to the efforts of Lady Edeline Strickland (wife of the Governor of Western Australia) who became its first president. It is a non-party, non-sectarian, umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated women’s groups in Western Australia.

It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. The Council has supported a wide range of social reform activities, particularly those related to education and to women’s, children’s and family welfare. While not an overtly feminist organisation, it provided a major focus for, predominantly middle-class, women’s activism until at least the 1940s. Unlike many other states, however, the Council had strong competition from the Women’s Service(s) Guild of Western Australia for leadership of the women’s movement.

Its initial aims were:
1. ‘To establish a bond of union between the various affiliated societies.
2. To advance the interests of women and children and of humanity in general.
3. To confer on questions relating to the welfare of the family, the State and the Commonwealth.’

Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) Association of Queensland was established in January 1981 with the aim of fostering and strengthening the ties between ex-members of the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS). The Association keeps in contact with members in Queensland as well as those living interstate and overseas.

To help in disseminating information a quarterly newsletter is sent to members advising them of Association activities. These include monthly meetings, luncheons, coach tours and fellowships.

The Association has placed AWAS plaques at various places around the world including the War Museum, Gallipoli; Australia House, London; University of Queensland, St Lucia; and in the ANZAC Square Crypt, Currumbin War Memorial, RSL Currumbin.

The Association participates in ANZAC Day Parades as well as organising its own reunions (Gold Coast – 1982, 1984, 1991, 1997, and 2001; Cairns – 1986, 1991 and 1995; Toowoomba 1989 and Townsville 1993).

The Women’s Federal Political Association, the forerunner of the Women’s Political Association, was established in 1903, with Vida Goldstein as president, to educate women in political matters. Men were not excluded from membership. In March 1904 it changed its name to the Women’s Political Association of Victoria with the aim of organising more efficiently women’s votes in the interests of the home and children, of efficient government at all levels, and of improved social and industrial conditions. In an attempt to challenge the party ticket system, the WPA declared itself to be non party political and refused to affiliate with any political party, although its sympathies lay with the Australian Labor Party. Goldstein believed that party politics subsumed the interests of women. The WPA supported Goldstein in her attempts to be elected to the federal parliament and adopted a pacifist stance in World War One. It disbanded in 1919 when Goldstein travelled overseas.

The Women’s Peace Army was established on 15 July 1915 at the offices of the Women’s Political Association, in an attempt to mobilise the women in Australia who opposed all war, regardless of political party membership. It was to be a fighting body to destroy militarism ‘with the same spirit of self-sacrifice that soldiers showed on the battlefield’. ‘We war against war’ was the motto of the Women’s Peace Army. Their flag took the feminist colours of purple, green and white. The most well-known members were Vida Goldstein, president, Cecilia John and Adela Pankhurst. With autonomous branches in Sydney and Brisbane, the Women’s Peace Army projected a radical, militant image with its socialist anti-war ideology and attracted large numbers to its sometimes controversial public meetings. Other tactics included participation in peace demonstrations, support for peace candidates at elections, petitions to members of parliament and practical help to those disadvantaged by war. It participated in the anti-conscription campaigns of 1916 and 1917. With the end of the Great War, the Women’s Peace Army went into recess on 18 December 1919.

The National Council of Women of Tasmania was founded in 1899, in response to an invitation from the Countess of Aberdeen (then president of the International Council of Women) for Tasmania to be represented at the International Council of Women Congress in London that year. Its inaugural meeting, on the 20 May 1899 was organised by Mrs J. S. Dodds, wife of the Tasmanian Administrator. The initial committee also included Emily Dobson(wife of former Premier Henry Dobson), who was active in a large number of women’s groups, and who was later vice-president (1900-1903) and then president (1904-1934) of the Council.

It is a non-party, non-sectarian, umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated Tasmanian women’s groups. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. It provided a major focus for, predominantly middle-class, women’s activism until at least the 1940s. The Council has supported a wide range of social reform activities, particularly those related to education and to women’s, children’s and family welfare.

Its aims are:
• ‘To provide a strong network and a means for affiliated groups to support each other, and
• To work together on matters of mutual interest or concern, as well as links with the wider community;
• To promote the best interests of women and their families and people in general;
• To confer and provide a two-way flow of information on issues related to the welfare of the family, the state and the Commonwealth;
• To work in every way for the application of equity, social justice (the Golden Rule) and improvements in quality of life in a sustainable environment, for everyone.’

The National Council of Women of South Australia is a non-party, non-sectarian, umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated women’s groups.
Founded in 1902, with Lady Way (the Governor’s wife) as president, Its inaugural meeting was addressed by Catherine Helen Spence, who also became its vice-president. The initial group, however, foundered and became inactive around 1909. The Council was revived in 1920 with Lady Hackett as president.

The Council functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. Like all National Councils of Women, it operates though a standing committee system whereby specific issues are brought before the Council and, if there is general agreement that a question should be taken up, a subcommittee is established to investigate the matter.

It provided a major focus for predominantly, middle-class, women’s activism until at least the 1940s. Although not an overtly feminist organisation, the Council has supported a wide range of social reform activities, particularly those related to education and to women’s, children’s and family welfare.

Its aims are:
1. To promote the interest of women and to secure their proper recognition in the community.
2. To educate and uplift the outlook of the community on the status of women, the importance of the family, and the nurture and upbringing of children.
3. To provide a bond of union between women’s organisations, and a means of co-ordinated expressions for the societies affiliated with the Council.
4. To represent the interests of women in general before Parliament, local governing bodies and the Courts.
5. To promote the moral and social welfare of the community.

Although the battle for woman suffrage began later in Australia than it did in Britain or the United States, success was achieved earlier. Concerted campaigns for woman suffrage in Australia date from the early 1880s and were supported by organisations and individuals representing a wide array of political and ideological platforms. In some ways, these campaigns signalled the start of women’s participation in the Australian political process. Although linked to and inspired by the international campaigns and context of the time, the Australian suffrage movement had its own distinctive, regional characteristics. Matters of race and class, of geographical proximity to Asia and the need to build a healthy white nation at the turn of the century, combined with universal concerns about justice and the rights of the individual to create a uniquely Australian movement.

The Governesses’ Institute and Melbourne Home opened in Melbourne in 1863 with the aim of accommodating governesses, shop women, needlewomen and servants and to provide a central employment registry in a self-supporting institution. Its forerunner, the Melbourne Female Home, which opened in September 1857 in temporary premises in Collingwood, provided shelter only for newly arrived single female immigrants who were without friends in the colony. The Governesses’ Institute occupied a number of premises over the course of its existence in Little Lonsdale St. Melbourne, “Wynamo” in St Kilda and “Lovell House” in Caulfield. The governing body comprised a central committee, with nine local or suburban committees. A matron was employed to supervise the Home and its occupants. Strict rules applied; women were only admitted if they arrived on a week day, could pay a week’s board in advance and were without children. In 1863 Mrs Laura Jane a’Beckett was elected secretary of the management committee of six men and twenty-six women. It closed in 1936.

The Catalysts’ Society developed out of the meetings of nineteen women with intellectual interests who planned to establish a Lyceum Club in Melbourne in 1910. The meetings proved so enjoyable that the women decided to meet on a regular basis while waiting for the Lyceum Club to be established. The nineteen original Catalysts held their first dinner meeting on 24 September 1910 at Sargent’s Café. At that meeting they elected Ethel Osborne as president and Alice Michaelis and Jessie Webb as joint secretaries. They adopted the name of ‘The Catalysts’. At their second meeting they chose their motto ‘Changing but Unchanged’. Enid Derham presented the first paper on ‘The works of Thomas Hardy’, which was followed by discussion. This format for the monthly meetings continues today.

The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) of Western Australia was founded in 1892, inspired by the visit of Jessie Ackerman, the second world missionary of the American Union. The group is primarily dedicated to promoting total abstinence from alcohol and other harmful drugs and all members sign a pledge to this effect. Under its broader agenda of ‘home protection’ and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, however, it has been involved in wide range of social and political reform activities mostly relating to the welfare of women and children. Importantly, influenced by its sister organisation in the United States, the WCTU became a major supporter of the campaign for women’s suffrage in Australia as it was believed that power at the ballot box was the only way to achieve their goals. While at its most influential in the years up to WWI, the movement still continues today.

The Australian Pre-School Association, previously named the Australian Association for Pre-School Child Development, established in 1939, is the national association for the advancement of pre-school development. All major voluntary agencies in Australia who work in the field of pre-school education are affiliates. The Victorian branch was established in 1948 and is acknowledged as the representative voluntary pre-school body in the state. Its role is to make a co-ordinated approach to the state government when legislation related to pre-school groups is being prepared, when standards in pre-school centres are being negotiated or when requests for improved subsidies are under discussion. As a lobby group it has greatly strengthened the pre-school voice.

Founded in 1896 (the first such council in Australia) the National Council of Women of New South Wales is a non-party, non-sectarian, umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated women’s organisations. It functions as a political lobby group, particularly for the interests of women and children, attempting to influence local, state and federal government, and as a coordinating body to enable concerted effort on specific issues. The Council emerged as a largely middle-class women’s organisation and, until the 1940s at least, was a major focal point for such women’s activism. Although not overtly feminist, the Council has campaigned for a wide range of social and political reforms.