From

1974
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

To

1976

Summary

The federal government (Whitlam) appointed the International Women's Year National Advisory Committee to oversee the distribution of government funding for projects between 1974 and 1976 associated with the United Nations-proclaimed International Year of Women (1975). Australia's activities for the International Year of Women were also supported by a secretariat under Elizabeth Reid, the women's advisor to the Prime Minister. Reid also convened the committee. Membership included Ruby Hammond, Irene Greenwood, Caroline Jones, Margaret Whitlam and Shirley Castley.

The committee attracted criticism from some activists in the Women's Liberation movement over spending priorities. However, seed and grant funding assisted the development of many important organizations and publications including the Working Women's Centre and Dr Kay Daniels's Women in Australia An Annotated Guide to Records.

Sources used to compile this entry: Caine, Barbara (ed.), Australian Feminism: A Companion, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1998, 607 pp; Lake, Marilyn, Getting Equal: The History of Australian Feminism, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, New South Wales, 1999, 316 pp.