Additional Information:
Issues of equal pay and opportunity have historically been the primary concerns of the Federation, and, from the 1950s to 1960s, they brough three cases before the Commonwealth Industrial Courts on the issue of equal pay. In 1978 they brought a test case for unpaid maternity leave.
They have also been active on numerous other issues, such as: jury service for women; uniform divorce laws; removal of the marriage bar; provisions for child care; sole parent benefits; the establishment of the National Women's Advisory Council and encouraging women to a great role in politics.
It has also supported various United Nations projects and has been active in encouraging girls to continue with higher education.
As of 2004, the BPW Australia website described itself thus:
‘BPW is
* a federation of affiliated Clubs and Members at Large;
* nonpartisan and promotes aims and objectives without distinctions as to race, language or religion;
* the voice of women in the paid and unpaid workforce;
* affiliated with BPW International, which is represented by Clubs and Affiliated members in over one hundred countries worldwide;
* in partnership with organisations worldwide expanding its representation to over ten million women
Vision Statement To achieve a just and equal status for women in all levels and areas of society where decisions are taken in true partnership with men, based on mutual respect, for a more balanced and peaceful world.
Mission Statement Knowledge is power, Power is a means of influencing future policies, Policies affect the lives of women, men and children.
BPW International works to develop a comprehensive framework of structures to provide the necessary education, training and opportunities for women to achieve economic independence and assume their rightful place in work and business, the professions and in all decision-making process.
BPW is the organisation for women in the workforce
Aims and Objectives
To organise business and professional women in all parts of Australia for the attainment of the following objectives:
* High standard of service in business and professions
* Stimulate and encourage in women a realisation and acceptance of their responsibilities to the community - locally, nationally and internationally
* Encourage women and girls to:
* acquire occupational training and advanced education
* use their occupational capacities and intelligence for the advantage of others as well as themselves
* Work for
* equal opportunities for women in the economic, political, social and cultural life of Australia
* the elevation of the status of women
* the removal of discrimination
* Promote world-wide co-operation between business and professional women of all ages
*To collect and present the views of business and professional women to the public, government, local authorities and business, to the Division and to the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's aims and objectives.
*To promote any other objectives in keeping with the aims which the Club considers desirable.
Activities
BPW Australia representatives actively participate in the consultative and policy process of government.
Ad hoc Committees are formed from time to time to deal with specific issues that may arise.’
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Books
- Highlights of twenty-five years : North Sydney Business and Professional Women's Club, 1959-1984, The Club, Sydney, 1984, 30 pp. [ Details... ]
- History Swan Hill B. & P.W. Club 1957-1990, Swan Hill Business and Professional Women's Club, Swan Hill, 1990. [ Details... ]
- Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, The rate for the job, Melbourne, 1965. [ Details... ]
- Bingham, Iris R., A bright idea : 35 years of Burnie BPW history, 1967-2002, Iris R. Bingham, Burnie, 2002, 97 pp. [ Details... ]
- Harrison, Win, The Business & Professional Women's Club of Wollongong: History from 25 years onwards 1978 to 1984, The Business & Professional Woman's Club of Wollongong, Wollongong, 1984, 28 pp. [ Details... ]
- Herbert, Penny A., The Business and Professional Women's Club of Perth : Perth : the first half century : 1946-1996, The Club, Perth, 1996, 26 pp. [ Details... ]
- Parry, June, Business and Professional Women's Club, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1929-1979, Business and Professional Women's Club, Bendigo, 1980, 36 pp. [ Details... ]
- Thoms, Patience R, comp, The first 25 years, B.P.W. Australia: The History of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Melbourne, 1972, 123 pp. [ Details... ]
- Wright, Maureen, Our story: B.P.W. Bunbury 30th : 1969-1999, The Club, Bunbury W.A., 1999, 31 pp. [ Details... ]
Edited Books
- Eagle, Vera J. (ed.), A history of the clubs of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, The Federation, 1976, 107 pp. [ Details... ]
- Eagle, Vera J. (ed.), A History of the Clubs of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Melbourne, 1985, 107 pp. [ Details... ]
Newsletters
- 'BPW Australia', The Magazine of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Melbourne, 1949[?]-1986[?]. [ Details... ]
- Federation news (Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women), The Federation, Melbourne, 1960[?]-. [ Details... ]
- B.P.W. News, Business and Professional Women's Club of Perth, Perth, 1961-. [ Details... ]
- BPW NSW News, 1969-. [ Details... ]
- Bunbury B.P.W. Bulletin, Business and Professional Women's Club of Bunbury, Bunbury, W.A., 1970[?]-[?]. [ Details... ]
- Australian Federation of BPW: Victorian Division news, AFBPW Victorian Division, Castlemaine, 1977[?]-1985[?]. [ Details... ]
- Newsletter (Donnybrook Business and Professional Women's Club), The Club, Donnybrook [W.A.], 1989-. [ Details... ]
- Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Victorian Division (eds), Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Victorian Division. Newsletter, The Division, Castlemaine [Vic.], 1969-1977[?]. [ Details... ]
Reports
- Report of the ... conference / Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, The Federation, Melbourne, [?]-1978. [ Details... ]
- Reports of the honorary secretary and chairman of standing committees, Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney, 1950-1979[?]. [ Details... ]
- Annual general meeting and election of office bearers / The Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney, The Club, Sydney, 1956-1968. [ Details... ]
- Annual report of the executive committee, Business and Professional Women's Club of Canberra, Canberra, 1959-1978[?]. [ Details... ]
- Report of the ... [Biennial] Conference of the Division of New South Wales of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, The Division, Woollongong/Sydney, 1969-1988[?]. [ Details... ]
- Conference report / Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women, ... Conference of the Tasmanian Division, The Division, Launceston, 1971-1988. [ Details... ]
See also
- Buswell, Val and Chris Rapp, Milestones? Equal Pay? Probate: The Front Runners, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women Inc., Sydney, 1988. [ Details... ]
- Martin, Elaine, '"Polite lobbying": the Australian Federation of Women Voters and its allies in the Australian post-war women's movement.', in Damousi, Joy and Katherine Ellinghaus (eds), Citizenship, Women and Social Justice: International Historical Perspectives, Department of History, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 1999, pp. 204-216. [ Details... ]
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