AFUW 32nd Triennial Conference was held in Melbourne, 23-26 April 2003

Theme: From Study to Forum: Women, Education and Citizenship

The 32nd AFUW Conference took up a theme foreshadowed in Professor (later Dame) Leonie Kramers opening address to the 1974 Triennial Conference held in Brisbane. Speaking to the Conference theme of The Meaning and Measurement of Human Progress, which was the theme set for the IFUW Conference to be held later that year in Kyoto, she challenged members to think about the meaning not only of their theme, but also of their Association, saying

I have often in the past wondered about the role of an association of women graduates. It is in some ways a curious organisation. Why should women graduates form themselves into a group? I raise this question because I take it that one measurable aspect of human progress might be the more effective participation of women in community affairs . . . there are still relatively few women in top positions in all branches of public life, and there are still many who do not make the most of their educational opportunities . . . (Cited in By Degrees . . . A history of the Australian Federation of University Women 19221985, by Heather Nash, 1985)

Ten triennial Conferences later, we are invited members to consider once again whether and in what ways the education of women is leading, or can lead, to more effective participation in public life.

The four day conference is in two parts - the first two days, devoted to internal matters were open only to AFUW members but, the second two days where the conference theme is addressed, were open to any of the public who wished to register for the conference.

See the following links for details of the Public Days Program, and registration and accommodation information.

Deborah Haydon
Convenor, Local Arrangements Committee

AFUW gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors of the Conference:

Monash University, Spinifex Press, University of Melbourne, YWCA Victoria

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