Australian Women's History

The Caroline Chisholm Society was founded to help single females who wanted to keep their children so they didn't have to put them up for adoption when they were born.

The Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women, The Union of Australian Women and the Australian Women's Voters union contested an equal pay case before the Arbitration.

The book The Female Eunich by Germains Greer sparked women to question the way that they were living and to work in roles of society.

Following a campaign by the Women's Action Committee the Bank of New South Wales was the first bank in Australia to grant a loan to a woman without a male guarantor.

An equal Pay Case results in the start of women being paid the same as men.

Helen Reddy released "I am Woman" which was a very popular song that women saw as a powerful message.

The WEL was created at Betrice Fausts home in Melbourne by herself and nine other women. The WEL helped the labour party win the 1972 election by releasing their form guide style report on politicians and what they would do for Women's Rights.

In 1973 Elizabeth Reid became the first Women's adviser to the new Prime Minister Gough Whitlam

In 1973 the first Women's Electoral Lobby national conference was held with 400 women attending.

Jeannie Little has been known for her fashion style and fashion has been one of the main areas of change for women since the end of World War 2. She was on television throughout the 70s and 80s however her sense in fashion was known about by family in the 60s.

The Commonwealth Family Law Act helped to remove the negative stigma surrounding divorce and created the no-fault divorce. It also allowed a woman to leave her husband if he was of abusive nature and not be classed the guilty party. This then aided with gaining custody of property or children.

Australian women celebrated in 1975 being named International Women's Year. This helped Women fight for their rights and for equality.

In 1976 Margaret Guilfoyle became the first woman to be appointed a cabinet minister (Minister for Social Security) for the Fraser Government. She was also the minister for education and finance.

In 1978 the National Women's Advisory Council was headed by Dame Beryl Beaurepaire as the first covenor.

In 1979, the Fraser Government showed a willingness to comply with standards by approving the international Convention on the Eliminations of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

On the 31st December, 1979, Margaret Guilfoyle received an order of British Empire for services to public and parliamentary services.

The office of the status of women was an ongoing way of advising the Prime Minister on ongoing women's issues.

In 1984, Helen Williams became the first woman to be appointed a head of Commonwealth Department.

In 1984, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) was created. It was the commission that was involved in attempting to resolve complaints that were made about breaches made against the Sexual Discrimination Act and they could order compensation.

In 1984, the Sex Discrimination Act which was by the Commonwealth, made it illegal for employers to discriminate against those on the grounds of sex, marital status and pregnancy. The Sex Discrimination Act also made sexual harassment illegal.

The Affirmation Action act was an act that allowed equal opportunities for women. It was passed by the commonwealth and enforced workplaces with over 100 employees to have someone appointed to implement affirmative action and provide public reports on the progress of the affirmative action.

In 1987, Judge Mary Gaudron was appointed as the first female High Court Judge.

In 1990, Western Australia became the first state with a female Premier. She was shortly followed by Joan Kirner in Victoria (August 1990) and other states like Queensland (Anna Bligh, 2007) and New South Wales (Kristina Keneally, 2009)

In 1992, Gai Waterhouse first started racing horses after receiving her Australian Jockey Licence. She has brought many women into the racing industry which was a profession that was highly dictated by men. She is known as the Queen of Australian horse racing and was awarded the Australians Sports Medal in 2000

The report was a result from a Westpac initiaivite which looked at women in the banking industry and found that women's jobs were mainly: part time, of lower skills than men's jobs and provided few opportunities for promotion or the acquisition of more advanced skills. The report also noted that men dominated senior positions and that there was a reluctancy for them to promote women with children.

Dr Zelda D'Aprano received an Order of Australia fo rher work in campaigning on women's workplace issues. in 2004, she chained herself to the Commonwealth building in protest to the 1969 Equal Pay decision.

In 2007, Anna Bligh became the first female Premier of Queensland. She was re-elected once before losing office to now Premier, Camble Newman.

In 2007, The Labour Party under the leadership of Kevin Rudd returned to head office. Julia Gillard was named Deputy Prime Minister and was the first female to do so.

In 2008, Quentin Bryce became Australia's first Governor General. She has inducted Julia Gillard and is recognised by having a bursary at the school she attended (Moreton Bay College).

In December of 2009, Kristina Keneally became the first female Premier of New South Wales.

On June the 24th, 2010, Julia Gillard became Australia's first female Prime Minister. She was also made the head of the Labour Party in 2010.