• Entry type: Organisation
  • Entry ID: AWE0106

Union of Australian Women

(From 1950 – )
  • Occupation Social action organisation

Summary

Established in 1950, the Union of Australian Women is a left-wing social change organisation. Its aim is to work for the status and wellbeing of women across the world

Details

The Union of Australian Women (UAW) was established at a conference in Sydney in August 1950. The New South Wales branch was the first to be formed, with other state branches forming in quick succession. The state branches came together in 1956 to establish a national organisation.

Foundation members included communists, Labor Party supporters, Christian activists, and members of the New Housewives’ Association. Early goals included improving the status of women and children, disarmament and a halt to nuclear testing and mining, equal distribution of wealth, increased welfare services, equal pay for women, equality for Indigenous Australians, abortion law reform, and opposition to the White Australia Policy. Current campaigns concern child care, woman and family friendly workplaces, health and housing, outworkers, reconciliation and Indigenous rights.

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Archival resources

  • State Library of South Australia
    • Papers re: Panhellenic Women's Movement
    • International Women's Day Committee Research Project : Summary Record [sound recording] Interviewers: Celia Frank and Kirstin Marks
    • Union of Australian Women : SUMMARY RECORD
    • Betty Fisher : SUMMARY RECORD
  • Victoria University of Technology
    • Archives of the Union of Australian Women
  • Noel Butlin Archives Centre, Australian National University
    • Union of Australian Women New South Wales branch deposit 1
    • Tom and Mary Wright collection deposit 1
    • Tom and Mary Wright Collection deposit 2
    • Union of Australian Women Federal Office deposit
    • Union of Australian Women New South Wales branch deposit 2
  • The University of Melbourne Archives
    • Oke, Marjorie (1911-2003)
  • The University of Newcastle Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Unit: Communist Party of Australia Archival Material
    • Barbara Curthoys Collection
  • Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections
    • Union of Australian Women Records
  • Fryer Library, The University of Queensland
    • Ted and Eva Bacon Papers
  • National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore Collection
    • Mary Wright interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Labor Council of New South Wales oral history project [sound recording]
  • National Library of Australia
    • U.A.W. news / Union of Australian Women
  • State Library of Victoria
    • Collection of papers relating to the employment of women in Australia, ca. 1942-1982. [manuscript].
  • State Library of New South Wales
    • Barbara Curthoys - interviews with members of the Union of Australian Women, 1995
    • Mary Wright papers, 1937-1990

Published resources

  • Book
    • Left-wing Ladies : The Union of Australian women in Victoria 1950-1998, Fabian, Suzane and Loh, Morag, 2000
    • More Than a Hat and Glove Brigade: The Story of the Union of Australian Women, Curthoys, B. (Barbara) and McDonald, Audrey, 1996
    • Uphill all the way: a documentary history of women in Australia, Daniels, Kay and Murnane, Mary, 1980
    • Women and wages in the war years 1940-1945 : Sheetmetal Workers' Union, 1982
    • Daring to take a stand : the story of the Union of Australian Women in Queensland, Young, Pam, 1998
  • Videorecording
    • Apron strings and atom bombs, Shona Stephen and Judith Womersley, 1996
  • Resource
  • Newsletter
    • UAW News, 1954-1999
    • The Journal of the Union of Australian Women, 1949-1953

Related entries


  • Member
    • Bacon, Eva (1909 - 1994)
    • Oke, Marjorie (Marj) Elizabeth (1911 - 2003)
    • Greville, Henrietta (1861 - 1964)
    • Miller, Beryl (1926 - )
    • Curthoys, Barbara (1924 - 2000)
    • Conway, Josephine (1920 - 2007)
    • D'Ambrosio, Lily (1964 - )
    • Hirsh, Carolyn Dorothy (1937 - )
    • Eldridge, Marian Favel Clair (1936 - 1997)
    • Horsfield, Dorothy (1948 - )
    • Fisher, Elizabeth (Betty) Mary (1925 - 2022)
    • Wright, Mary (1903 - 1993)
  • Membership
    • CAPOW! (1992 - )
    • Smith, Marjorie Irene (1911 - 1996)
    • Morgan, Edith Joyce (1919 - 2004)
    • Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920 - 1993)
  • Related Organisations
    • New Housewives' Association (1946 - 1950)
    • Panhellenic Women's Movement (1977 - )
  • President
    • Brown, Freda Yetta (1919 - 2009)
  • Related Women
    • Cusack, Dymphna (1902 - 1981)
    • Marchisotti, Daisy Elizabeth (1904 - 1987)
    • Elliott, Della (1917 - 2011)
  • Foundation Member
    • McRae, Doris Mary (1893 - 1988)
  • Presided
    • McRae, Doris Mary (1893 - 1988)

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