The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) established the Australian Women’s Archives Program (AWAP) in 2000, when it was known as the Australian Women’s Archives Project.
AWAP created the Australian Women's Register a freely accessible online service which makes it easier to locate archives and other research resources about Australian women and women’s organisations. The 7000 Register entries provide links to the location of archival and other research resources, such as oral history interviews, publications and websites. The Register showcases women’s history in some 30 online exhibitions on topics including women in politics, rural women, women’s service in wartime and occupations such as journalism and law.
A collaboration with the University of Melbourne, AWAP builds knowledge and recognition of the contribution made by Australian women, ensuring that the aims and ideals of the women’s rights movement are handed on to new generations. AWAP also encourages women and women’s organisations to preserve their records and brokers arrangements to place archives in appropriate collecting institutions.
The Register has been largely developed through grants, philanthropic gifts and an annual events program held in collaboration with the National Library of Australia. Since 2021 AWAP has been managed by a group of volunteer archivists, librarians and historians. The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts provides some financial support and continuing academic input.
The Australian Women's Archives Project has received assistance from many individuals and organisations, including (names and titles correct at the time the grant was received:
The University of Melbourne
• Professor Patricia Grimshaw and Professor Joy Damousi, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies
• A/Professor Gavan McCarthy and the eScholarship Research Centre
Individuals
• Joanna Baevski
• Christine Goode
• estate of Dr Thelma Hunter
• Mary Owen
• Fleur Spitzer
• several anonymous donors
Non-Government organisations
• Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch)
• Australian Women Lawyers
• Copyright Agency Limited
• Fred P. Archer Charitable Trust
• Helen Macpherson Smith Schutt Trust
• Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mining
• Myer Foundation
• Pamela Denoon Trust
• Project Deborah
• Tarlina Association
Commonwealth Government
• ABC Rural
• ANZAC Centenary Public Grants Program
• Australian Research Council
• Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet: Office for Women
• Department of Veterans' Affairs;
• Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs
• Family Court of Australia
• Federal Court of Australia
• Museum of Australian Democracy
• National Archives of Australia
• National Film and Sound Archive
• National Library of Australia
ACT Government
• Community Centenary Initiatives Fund
• Office for Women
• Government Heritage Awards
• Women’s Consultative Council
NSW Government
• Office for Women
• Premier's Department, Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government Committee
• State Records New South Wales
Victorian Government
• Centenary of Women's Suffrage Grant Scheme
• Department of Communities, Multicultural Commission
• Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
• Museums Victoria
• Public Record Office Victoria
WA Government
• Office for Women
Local Government
• Broken Hill City Council
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder City Council
Other academic organisations
• Australian Catholic University
• Australian National University
• Curtin University
• Griffith University
• Monash University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Sydney
