The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) established the Australian Women’s Archives Project (AWAP) in 2000 to preserve and build knowledge and recognition of the contribution made by women in Australia.

AWAP is currently a joint project with The University of Melbourne. Staff in the School of Historical Studies provide leadership in the area of historical research. Technical innovation and support of the project is provided by research fellows in the University’s eScholarship Research Centre.

AWAP is an important and authoritative resource for information about the roles of women in Australian history. It carries unique information around goals and achievements carried by Australian Women. The activities of AWAP include:

• Conducting original research and compiling information about women’s history
• Making that information available on the web through the Australian Women’s Register
• Celebrating groups of women including sportswomen, migrants, scientists and parliamentarians in the AWAP Showcase
• Encouraging Australian women and women’s organisations to discover and preserve their stories by depositing their records in archives and libraries for the use of further generations.

AWAP’s work is constantly developing and improving as a result of the donations and grants given to the Project. AWAP does not repeat the work undertaken by others (such as the Australian Dictionary of Biography) but provides links to other sources of information and tools where funding permits. Many individuals and organisations have generously given financial assistance and support to the Project.

The Australian Women’s Archives Project has received assistance from many individuals and organisations. We would like to acknowledge in particular the following who have provided support and financial assistance to the Project:

• Mary Owen
• the University of Melbourne
• Professor Patricia Grimshaw and the History Department, the University of Melbourne
• Gavan McCarthy and the eScholarship Research Centre, the University of Melbourne
• the Commonwealth Office for Women
• the National Library of Australia
• the National Archives of Australia
• Public Record Office Victoria
• the Myer Foundation
• the Australian Research Council
• the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs;
• the (then) Commonwealth Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs
• the ACT Office for Women
• the ACT Government Heritage Awards
• the NSW Government Sesquicentenary Fund
• Joanna Baevski
• Chris Foley
• the Pamela Denoon Trust
• the Helen Macpherson Smith Schutt Trust
• Fleur Spitzer
• Tarlina Association
• NSW Office for Women
• Broken Hill City Council
• the Copyright Agency Limited