Location: Home  »  Women in Australia  » Women in Australia - Milestones - 1984 - 2005

Women in Australia - Milestones - 1984 - 2005

This document is a work in progress. Feedback, including additions and corrections, would be very welcomed and should be sent to women@facsia.gov.au .

2005

2005 Australian of the Year awarded to Dr Fiona Wood AM, Head of the Royal Perth Burns Unit and Director of the Western Australia Burns Service. Dr Wood is Western Australia's only female plastic surgeon and co-founder of Clinical Cell Culture, a private company recognised in medical circles for its world-leading research and breakthroughs in the treatment of burns.

January 2005, 190 women received awards in the general 2005 Australia Day Honours list (or 32.6 per cent of the honours awarded). Nominations for 59.4 per cent of women were successful compared with 52.8 per cent of men. Of great significance, three women have received the highest award, that of Companion in the Order of Australia:

May 2005, women make up 26.5 per cent of the Australian Government Parliament (ie. 60 of the 226 members). 23 (or 30.3 per cent) of Senators and 37 (or 24.7 per cent) of Members in the House of Representatives are women. This is almost double the international average of 15.7 per cent ( IPU figures as at 28 February 2005 ).

2004

Australia Day 2004, 198 women recognised in Australia Day Honours list (or 35.8 per cent under the General Division of the Order of Australia) . Nominations for 58.1 per cent of women were successful compared with 46.9 per cent of men. Of great significance, 40.5 per cent of recipients of the Officers in the Order of Australia (AO) are women.

On 26 January 2004 Air Vice Marshal Julie Hammer was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service in the fields of electronics engineering in Defence, and military education as the Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy.

In February 2004 Heather Ridout becomes first female chief executive of the Australian Industry Group.

In June, 165 women are recognised in the general 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours list. There is one recipient of the highest category, that of Companion in the Order (AC), 17 recipients of the Officer in the Order of Australia (AO), 32 were made Members (AM), and 115 recipients of a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM).

In October 2004, there are significant changes to the Australia Public Service with four new appointments, all of which are women:

These appointments together with Ms Helen Williams AO, Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, and Ms Jane Halton PSM, Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing mean that 6 of the 19 Australian Public Service Departmental Secretaries are women (or 31.6 per cent).

2003

In November, Carmen Lawrence was elected first female President of the Labor Party after the first nationwide membership ballot for the position.

Also in 2003, Air Vice Marshall Julie Hammer becomes the first female to achieve that rank in the Royal Australian Air Force, continuing as highest ranked female in the Australian Defence Force.

Kareena Ballard becomes first female president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia.

2002

Ms Jenny Macklin MP elected as Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party, becomes the first women to hold such a position in either of the two major political parties (ALP or Liberal/National Coalition).

2001

Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, elected as leader of the Australian Democrats at age 32, becomes the youngest person of any party to hold such a position.

Thirty-nine women elected to House of Representatives, 16 women elected to Senate (total 55 women elected to Parliament).

In February, Kendell Airlines new general manager, Mary-Louise Cann, was the first woman to rise through the ranks to head the operations of a large Australian airline.

In February, the Women's Royal Australian Army Corp celebrated their 50th anniversary.

In February, Carol Martin was the first Aboriginal Woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament (Western Australia State Government).

2000

On Australia Day 2000, women received 30.4 per cent of the honours awarded. Nominations for women increased with 230 nominations for women considered. Honours recipients included:

In January, Dame Roma Mitchell was awarded the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in the Queen's New Year's Honours list. This is the highest Victorian Order that can be awarded to an Australian.

In January, two female graduate students from the University of New South Wales, Jessica Dempsey and Jill Rathbourne, became the first female Australian scientists to work at the South Pole.

In January two female Monash University Students, Kim Little and Cathy Rossouw, won the World University Debating Championships from a field of 250 other international teams.

In January, Diana Bryant QC was announced as the first Chief Federal Magistrate (Designate) of the new Federal Magistrates Service. (Formal appointment expected to occur in April 2000).

In January Dr Jill Ker Conway became the first woman to be appointed as Chairperson of the Lend Lease Corporation, a $10 Billion, multinational property developer and funds manager.

In January the Hon Jackie Kelly MP became the first woman to give birth while serving as a Federal Government Minister.

In March seven rural women were recognised as part of the inaugural Rural Women's Awards and received bursaries of $20,000 to build on their management, business or leadership skills.

In March 33-year-old curator and writer, Ms Beth Jackson became the youngest person to ever be appointed to the Australia Council.

Dr Kerryn Phelps elected in May as the first woman President of the Australian Medical Association.

In November, Ms Maureen Plavsic became the first woman to lead an Australian television network, becoming Managing Director of the Seven Television Network.

1999

In January, three women were appointed Companion in the Order of Australia, the highest honour under the Order of Australia. They were Professor Suzanne Cory for service to science; Ms Kaarene Fitzgerald for community service in relation to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); and Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, CBE, AM for public service and leadership to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

In March Kathy Sullivan became the longest serving Federal female Parliamentarian in Australian History having served 9,080 days in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act was introduced into Parliament on 22 September 1999, replacing the Affirmative Action Act 1986.

In October 1999 female labour force participation rate of almost 55 per cent (for women aged 15 and over) was the highest on record.

The representation of indigenous women on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Regional Councils increased to a record 30 per cent following the October elections.

Susan O'Neill equalled Sir Frank Beaurepaire's record of 33 as the highest number of Australian Open swimming titles.

Zali Steggal was the first skiing world champion for Australia.

Carla Zampatti was the first woman appointed as Chair of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

Dawn Fraser was named Best Female Swimmer of the Century and Australia's Female Athlete of the Century, the only Australian among international winners of the sports star of the century awards.

The Hockeyroos became the most successful side in the history of women's world hockey after winning their 8th consecutive major title.

The Australian Service Nurses' National Memorial was opened on 2 October 1999: the centenary of service nursing.

In December, Louise Sauvage became the first Paralympian to be named Australian Athlete of the Year.

1998

Thirty-three women elected to House of Representatives, and 10 women elected to Senate (total 22).

Professor Alice Tay was appointed President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the first woman to hold this office.

Susie O'Neill became the highest gold medal winner in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Louise Sauvage was named Paralympian of the Year for the fourth time.

Belinda Clark was named Inaugural Wisden Australian Cricketer of the Year.

1997

Penny Wensley was appointed Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations, the most senior external appointment ever given to a woman in the Australian Foreign Service.

Australia was the first English-speaking country to appoint a woman to head its national postal service when Linda Nicholls was appointed Chairwoman of the Australia Post Board.

Women made up 54 per cent of all higher education students, compared with 50 per cent in 1987.

462,300 women were small business operators; these women make up 35 per cent of Australia's 1.3 million small business operators.

1996

Sen. Margaret Reid becomes the first female president of the Senate.

Thirteen women elected to the Senate.

The first Australasian Women in Police Conference was held in Sydney.

Gloria Shipp became the first female Aborigine to be ordained as an Anglican Priest.

ABC Radio presenter, Elaine Canty, was the first woman appointed to the Australian Football League Tribunal.

Nova Peris-Kneebone was the first Aboriginal woman to win Olympic Gold.

Three Sydney women became wharfies, ending male domination of Australian docks.

Professor Fay Gale became the first female President of the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee.

1995

Wendy Craik became first female director of the National Farmers' Federation.

Jennie George became the first female President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Amendments to Sex Discrimination Act to include discrimination on the ground of potential pregnancies became effective.

The Rural Women's Unit was established in the Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries and Energy.

Department of Employment Education and Training Curriculum Material - addressing gender based violence released.

1994

Dr Heather Munro became first female president of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Home Childcare Allowance was introduced.

1993

Working Women's Centres were established and funded by the Federal Government at a cost of $500,000 per annum, to give advice to women on issues such as workplace bargaining and access to training.

The National Strategy on Violence Against Women was launched.

Cash rebate introduced for work related childcare expenses for children up to 12 years.

Launch of a training package on eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 was strengthened. Amendments included:

The Federal Attorney General established the Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into women's equality before the law.

The Australian Institute of Judicial Administration and the Family Court of Australia were funded to develop gender awareness programmes for members of the judiciary and other decision-makers.

The Australian Council for Women was established as a consultative body with women in Australia and to advise the Government on the Fourth UN World Conference on Women, to be held in Beijing in 1995.

Sen. Cheryl Kernot becomes the third woman to lead an Australian political party, the Australian Democrats.

The first female National Party of Australia Parliamentary Member of the House of Representatives was De-Anne Kelly, Member for Dawson in Queensland, elected in 1993.

1992

Janet Holmes A'Court became the first woman appointed to the Reserve Bank Board.

Justice Elizabeth Evatt, President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, became the first Australian elected to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

"Stop Violence Against Women" Community Education Programme

ATSIC Family Violence Intervention Programme

1991

Dame Roma Mitchell was appointed Governor of South Australia, becoming the first female vice-regal representative in Australia.

Gail Owen was appointed the Law Institute's first female president in 132 years.

The Work and Family Unit in the Commonwealth Department of Industrial Relations was established.

The first Women and Sport Promotion Awards were held.

Fee Relief under the Commonwealth Children's Services Programme was extended to privately operated childcare services.

1990

Sen. Janet Powell becomes the second woman to lead the Australian Democrats, and the first woman member of either House to have a private bill passed by both Houses, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Advertisements (Prohibition) Act 1989 .

Carolyn Jakobsen, MP, is elected chair of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (Caucus), the first woman to hold this position, and Elaine Darling, MP, and Mary Crawford, MP, are elected Vice-chair and Secretary respectively.

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, AC CBE, was appointed first woman Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Dr Carmen Lawrence was the first woman to be elected an Australian State Premier (Western Australia), followed by Joan Kirner (Victoria).

Cathy Freeman was the first Aboriginal woman to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Deirdre O'Connor was the first female Federal Court Judge and president of the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Australia ratified the International Labour Organisation Convention No 156, Workers with Family Responsibilities.

Dr Diana Horvath was the first woman chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Betty Churcher was the first woman appointed as Director of the Australian National Gallery.

The National Committee on Violence Against Women was established.

The Equal Pay Unit in the Department of Industrial Relations was established.

Australian statement "Women and Environment" was launched.

1989

Rosemary Follett became the first female Head of an Australian Government when she was elected Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory.

1988

Flight Lieutenant RD Williams and Flying Officer Hicks were the first female pilots to graduate in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Prime Minister launched the first National Agenda for Women. It was based on the United Nation's Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women.

The National Agenda for Women's Grants Programme was established.

The Child Support Agency was established and the Child Support Scheme introduced.

Equity became a national objective of all TAFE programmes.

1987

Professor Di Yerbury became the first female to be appointed Vice-Chancellor (Macquarie University).

The Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne announced the ordination of women.

The National Breast Cancer Screening and Cervical Cancer Pilot Projects were established.

The National Domestic Violence Education Programme was announced.

The Family Allowance Supplement (FAS) was introduced.

The Aboriginal Women's Initiatives Programme was established in ATSIC.

The National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools was announced.

Women surpassed men for the first time in participation in higher education.

School retention rates for girls exceeded those of boys for the first time.

The National Policy and Plan for Women in Sport was published. Women's Sport Promotion Unit (WSPU) established.

The Survey of Gender-Differentiated Provisions in Federal Awards was published.

The Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act was widened to promote equal opportunity in certain Commonwealth authorities.

Sen. Margaret Reid and Sen. Susan Knowles representing the Liberal Party become Opposition Whip and Deputy Opposition Whip respectively.

Mary Gaudron became the first woman justice of the High Court of Australia.

1986

Senator Janine Haines became the first woman leader of a political party, the Australian Democrats.

The Hon Anne Levy became the President of the Legislative Council and so became the first women to be a Presiding Office of a House of Parliament in Australia. She was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1975 where she remained until 1997.

The Hon Joan Child, MP became first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Pat O'Shane became the first Aboriginal woman to be appointed a Magistrate by the NSW government.

Justice Elizabeth Evatt became the first woman President of the Australian Law Reform Commission.

The Rural Women's Access Grants Programme commenced.

The Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 was passed in Federal Parliament.

The Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act was passed.

The Women's Employment Education and Training Advisory Group (WEETAG) was formed to advise the Commonwealth Minister for Employment, Education and Training.

1985

The Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP), including the Women's Emergency Support Programmes, commenced.

Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith was the first woman President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

1984
Ms Helen Williams was appointed first woman Secretary of a Commonwealth Department, in the Department of Education.

The Federal Sex Discrimination Act was passed, based on the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The First Federal Government Women's Budget Statement was tabled.

The Public Service Reform Act introduced Equal Employment Opportunity Programmes into the Australian Public Service.

The Aboriginal Women's Unit was established in the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

The National Women's Consultative Council was established.

The Women's Research and Employment Initiatives Programme was established in the Commonwealth Department of Education and Youth Affairs.

Justice Elizabeth Evatt was the first Australian elected to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. She served on the Committee from 1984-1992 and was elected chair from 1989-1991.

Aboriginal voting and enrolling compulsory.