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Digital Classroom

Explore Australia's history at the National Library's Digital Classroom, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. With over 10 million items, we support diverse learning styles, fostering inquiry-based learning for students to analyse sources and draw conclusions about the Australian story.
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An aerial view of a large street procession with participants dressed in white, marching in rows and carrying banners. The crowded scene is framed by towering buildings on one side and tree-lined streets on the other. Spectators line the sidewalks, watching the organised march as cars and horse-drawn carriages are scattered among the crowd.

Bessie Mabel Rischbieth, Photographs of suffrage demonstrations and campaigning activities, 1900 - 1967, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-439976984

Women's suffrage

Topic

Learn about the history, struggles and triumphs of women in their fight for the right to vote. Reflect on how women's suffrage movement shaped democratic societies and influences political advocacy today.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Government and politics
Law and legislation
Protest and dissent
A collage of black-and-white photographs showing different items and types of clothing worn by members of the Australian Women's Land Army, including socks, gloves, boots, shirts, overalls, frocks, coats, and hats.

Australia. Department of Supply and Shipping, The uniform dress, Australian Women's Land Army, 1943, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-14120362

War as a catalyst for change

Topic

Examine the evolving roles women took on during the First and Second World Wars and how they impacted on women's labours, gender expectations and women's rights in Australia.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Government and politics
Law and legislation
Protest and dissent
Law books stacked on a desk
Trailblazing women lawyers

Module

Explore the stories of Australian women who broke barriers in the legal profession in this learning module.

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
Law and legislation
Top portion of a poster differently coloured side profiles of a face on a red background, with black text reading 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights'

United Nations Association of Australia, Collection of posters from United Nations Association of Australia (detail), 1978, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2847513995

The International Stage: Australian women lawyers as active citizens

Topic

This topic links the Australian Women Lawyers who have acted as active citizens on an international stage.  

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
Law and legislation
A black-and-white photograph of a woman standing against a wall covered in posters. She is smiling and holding a folded newspaper in her arms, casually dressed with loose hair. The posters in the background are partially torn and feature bold text and graphics.

Brendan Hennessy, Germaine Greer holding newspapers, 1988, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-149859225

Second wave feminism and 20th century social change

Topic

Explore how Second Wave feminism and social changes in the 20th century reshaped women’s rights, roles, and aspirations in society.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Government and politics
Law and legislation
Protest and dissent
A photograph of a smiling woman seated in a wheelchair in front of a large bookcase and desk. She is wearing a white tshirt. The wheelchair has a control stick which sits just below her chin.

Rosemary Kayess, 2015, photo courtesy of Kim Rubenstein

Rosemary Kayess - Human rights lawyer

Topic 

Rosemary Kayess has devoted her career to the study and promotion of human rights and discrimination law in Australia and internationally.

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
A black-and-white photograph of Jessie Street seated at a desk representing Australia at a United Nations conference. She is wearing a white shirt and suit jacket and is writing, with other women visible beside her.

Jessie Street representing Australia at the United Nations, 194- , nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231551090

Prominent women in Australia’s feminist movement

Topic

Explore the contributions of key Australian feminists who shaped the fight for women's rights and reflect on their lasting impact on feminism today.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Government and politics
Law and legislation
Protest and dissent
A colour photograph of Anne Summers. Anne has shoulder length blonde hair and wears a red outfit and a large round necklace, standing against a red curtain background.

Craig Mackenzie, Portrait of Anne Summers at the National Library of Australia, 2013, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-132320638

Modern legacies in Australian feminism

Topic

Explore the evolution of feminist movements in contemporary Australia. Consider the impact and progress made, and challenges that remain in achieving gender equality through analysis of key feminist movements, figures and topics.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
A person with long brown hair and glasses stands behind a wooden lectern, speaking into a microphone. The background features a screen displaying partially visible text and graphics. To the left, green and blue from the flag of the Torres Strait Islands is visible.

Irene Dowdy & National Library of Australia, Professor Megan Davis, Cobble Cobble woman of the Barunggam Nation, presenting the 2022 Kenneth Myer Lecture, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3135627148

Megan Davis - Constitutional and International lawyer

Topic 

Professor Megan Davis is a leading Indigenous Australian whose work influences law and Indigenous policy in Australia, particularly advancing constitutional reform and recognition for Indigenous Australians.

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
A portrait of a smiling woman wearing a black cardigan over a black top and a grey sweater. She is also wearing a colourful brooch shaped like a tree with colourful leaves.

Lannon Harley, Photograph of Jane Connors, 2014

Jane Connors - International lawyer

Topic 

Jane Connors has had a distinguished academic career in which she has dedicated her scholarship and work as an international law practitioner to the betterment of United Nations (UN) treaty mechanisms and the rights of women and children.

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
Photo portrait of Gillian Triggs with a small smile

Gillian Triggs interviewed for oral history

Gillian Triggs - Human Rights Lawyer

Topic

Gillian Triggs is a lawyer and former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. She has held the position of Professor of Law at the University of Melbourne Law School and published books about her work to advocate for human rights in Australia.

Humanities
Year 10
Australian women
Law and legislation
A group of women marches down a city street, holding various protest signs. Signs include messages like "Sexism is alive & living in Australia" and "Dress for comfort, not for style." A large sculpture is visible in the background.

John McKinnon, Women on the march wave their placards at the International Women's Day march, Melbourne, March 8, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137045864

Feminism in Australia

Module

Explore the evolution of women's rights in Australia from women's suffrage to contemporary movements like #MeToo in this learning module. 

 

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Protest and dissent

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