Women's Networking Groups

Author: Youth 2 Youth.

There are many women's professional associations, NGOs and networking groups in Australia. Why not harness some girl power and network with women in your community, industry or field of passion. Many of these groups have the added advantage of doing great things for our world!

Step One: Scour this list, or do a web search, to find a group that interests you.
Step Two: Contact them (don't be shy!) and ask if they accept new members, or have events.
Step Three: Go along to an event and see if you like it. If so, you may like to join up for the year!

The Benefits:

• Meet ambitious and socially responsible (powerful women) who can be your friend, mentor, business coach, angel investor, strategic partner, adopted big sis, anything!
• Learn about other businesses or ways of doing business in your industry/field.
• Make connections with prospective customers or for work experience placements.
• Have fun; make a contribution to your industry/profession; make a difference to society.

The Big Five

Soroptimist
Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific
8th Floor, Park House
187 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9235 0439
Fax: +61 2 9231 2135
Email: jzsiswp@vison.net.au or siswphq@ozemail.com.au

UNIFEM
UNIFEM of Australia
PO Box 93
Castlecrag NSW 2068
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9888 5882
Fax: +61 2 9888 1500
Email: unifem@ram.net.au
URL: http://www.ram.net.au/unifem/
UNIFEM aims to bring women into mainstream development planning and decision-making and works in three key areas of strategic importance: agriculture and food security, trade & industry, and macro policy and national planning. It also acts as a catalyst within the UN system to link the needs and concerns of women to all critical issues on the national, regional and global agendas.

YWCA
YWCA of Australia
PO Box 1022
Dickson ACT 2602
Australia
Tel: +61 2 6230 5150
fax: +61 2 6230 5156
email: natoffice@ywca.org.au
URL: http://wStrengthened by our faiths and enriched by our worldwide association of women and girls, the YWCA of Australia is committed to providing opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power to achieve a common vision: peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. The YWCA services a quarter of a million Australian women, men and children each year in the areas of health and well being, employment and vocational training, travel accommodation, housing, leadership training, self esteem building, child care, social justice and more. ww.ywca.org.au

BPW
BPW Australia 20 Getting Crescent
CANBERRA ACT 2612
Phone: 61 26257 2775
Fax: 61 2 6257 3772
Email: bpwaust@bpw.com.au

Zonta
Zonta International
Jane Wilson Pharmacy
Drive-In Shopping Centre
Kippa-Ring QLD 4021 Australia
Tel / Fax: +61 7 3283 3844

The Others

Women in Business (Australia)
Locked Bag 7000
DARLINGHURST
NSW 1300 Australia
Phone: + 61 2 9219 8913
Fax: + 61 2 9219 8920
E-mail: info@womeninbusiness.com.au
Website: http://www.womeninbusiness.com.au

Women in Business (Australia) was established in 1995 to give voice to the countless women running successful businesses or making management decisions. Our mission is to highlight the achievements of women in business, provide pertinent business information and create a forum for the exchange of ideas. We achieve this through our networking events in Sydney and Brisbane, weekly Women in Business feature page in businessnsw and Business Queensland newspapers, website and annual Top Women-Owned Business awards.

Association of Non-English Speaking Background Women of Australia
Suite 208 Cornelius Building
147A King St Sydney
NSW 2000
Ph +61 2 9223 5366
Fax +61 2 9231 0941
email: anesbwa@bigpond.com.au

Australian Council of Business Women
Level 3, 341 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Postal: PO Box 2634, Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: +61 2 9260 6128
Fax: +61 2 9260 6233
email: acob@ozemail.com.au
URL: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~acob/

The Australian Council of Businesswomen - ACOB - is an important lobby organisation which has been founded with a single mission: to ensure that the opinions, ideas and vision of Australian's businesswomen form part of the top level debate with governments, the media and business in Australia. ACOB has expertise to lobby governments, the media and business to deliver the views of businesswomen and women's organisations direct to the policy-makers, decision-makers and the media.

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
147a King Street
Tel:61 2 9232 3406 158
Castlereagh Street,
3rd Floor Sydney
NSW 2000
Australia

Women in Engineering
PO Box 123 Broadway
NSW 2007
Australia
email: wendy.smith@eng.monash.edu.au
URL: http://www.ieaust.org.au/WIE.htm

Aims of the National Women in Engineering Committee: To affirm the advantages of diversity within engineering education and the engineering workforce. To advise on changes needed in Institution policies, practices and structures which will encourage women's full participation within the Institution. To identify and advise on changes needed in management policies and practices which will enable women's full participation in the engineering workforce. To encourage, develop and promote strategies aimed at increasing women's participation and retention in engineering education and training.

Australian Council of Businesswomen
PO Box 2634
Sydney NSW 2011
Australia
Ph: (02) 9299 0670
Fax: (02) 9299 0669
Mobile: 0407 9299 97
Email: acob@bigpond.com
URL: http://www.acob.org.au

Women in Film and Television Australia
PO Box 522 Paddington
NSW 2021 Australia
Ph +61 2 9332 4584
Fax +61 2 9331 7145
Email: wiftnsw@zed.org
URL: http://www.wiftnsw.zed.org

Women in Film and Television NSW (WIFT) is an organisation which stimulates professional development and opportunities in the pursuit of professional equity for women in screen-based media worldwide. Through events like the Women on Women Film Festival we celebrate the achievements of women in film, television and related industries. This site provides information about our objectives and initiatives, as well as programs and behind the scenes information about our upcoming events.

Women in Science Enquiry Network -WISENET'
PO Box 647 Glebe
NSW 2037
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9817 6400
Fax: +61 2 9817 4941
Email: diana@pharmacol.su.oz.au

Women's Economic Think Tank
PO Box 675 Glebe
NSW 2037
Australia
phone/fax +61 2 9552 3698

Coalition of Australian Participating Organisations of Women (CAPOW!)
PO Box 192 Camperdown
NSW 2050
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9550 6734
Fax: +61 2 9516 3158
Email: hleonard@intercoast.com.au
URL: http://www.isis.aust.com/capow/

CAPOW! is a network of national women's organisations. Its purpose is to give Australian women access to information and to provide support which will enable them to work together to achieve an equitable, sustainable and peaceful society. The network aims to empower women by giving them the means to share knowledge and resources in working to build a society which is equally informed by women.

Women in Management Inc.
PO Box 854
North Sydney
NSW 2059 Australia
Ph +61 2 9955 1922
Fax +61 2 9955 0171

Women into Politics
PO 1144 North Sydney
NSW 2060
Australia
Tel/Fax 61 2 9437 6916
Tel: +61 2 9850 7379
Fax: +61 2 9850 7391
email: Barbara.McGarity@mq.edu.au

A coalition of women's organisations.

Women Lawyers Association
Level 3, 33 Berry St.
North Sydney.
2060
Tel: 61 2 9956 6150

Constructive Women Women in Architecture
14 Burns Bay Rd Lane Cove.
NSW 2066
Tel: 61 2 9418 8697

Females in Information Technology
26 Craiglands Ave.
Gordon NSW 2072
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9499 2042
Fax: +61 2 9498 6113
Email: amurnane@onaustralia.com.au
URL: http://www.fit.org.au/

Females in Information Technology (FIT) is an Australian organisation whose aim is to encourage women in Information Technology.

Australian Women in Agriculture
PO Box 1716 Moree
NSW 2400
Australia
Ph: +61 2 6753 9552
Fax: +61 2 6753 9549
E-mail: scroggie@ansonic.com.au
URL: http://www.awia.org.au/default.htm

Australian Women in Agriculture is committed to promoting the advancement of women in agriculture by: uniting and raising the profile of women in agriculture; addressing rural and agricultural inequalities; working to ensure the survival of agriculture for future generations; securing local, regional, national and international recognition; and, achieving the status of a political and economic force.

National Foundation for Australian Women
GPO Box 1465
Canberra City
ACT 2601
Australia
ph: +61 2 6287 4334
Fax: +61 2 6287 4303
URL: http://pcug.org.au/other/wel/announce/nfaw.htm

Objectives: To advance and protect the interests of Australian women in all spheres. To ensure that the aims and ideals of the women's movement and its collective wisdom are handed on to new generations of women. The Foundation will seek to strengthen and support women's groups by: sponsoring research and advocacy; working to increase support for feminist goals in the community; and improving communication between women's groups.

Women's Network for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
Student Equity Dept
Canberra Institute of Technology
GPO Box 826
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
email: ildi.szanto@cit.act.edu.au
URL: http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/wnet/index.html

We are developing a network so that women in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Australia and the Asia Pacific region can access current TVET information and discuss issues, ideas and achievements. We are women who are involved in management and delivery of training; development and accreditation; technical support for training; and, research and policy in the TVET sector. TVET includes women in adult and community education; private industry; public and private providers; community and women's groups interested in women's education. This includes both formal and informal training.

Womensport Australia
26 Brigalow Street, O'Connor
ACT 2602
Tel: +61 2 6257 1402
Fax: +61 2 6257 1402
Email: wsareid@dynamite.com.au
URL: http://www.ausport.gov.au/wspahome.html

The mission is to facilitate full participation, equity and access for women in and through sport and physical recreation. This mission is guided through three basic principles: women will construct their own sport and physical recreation models; women will have decision making roles in the administration of sport and physical recreation; and women will have an equitable proportion of public, community and corporate resources.

Australian Women Lawyers
c/o The Victorian Bar Owen Dixon Chambers
205 William Street
Melbourne
VIC 3000 Australia
Ph: +61 3 9601 6992 Fax: +61 3 9640 0588 or +61 3 9600 0961
email: awlawyer@ozemail.com.au or alexrichards@melbourne.starway.net.au
URL: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~awlawyer/

The objects of AWL are to achieve justice and equality for all women; further understanding and support for the legal rights of all women; identify, highlight and eradicate discrimination against women inherent in the legal system and in the community generally; advance equality for women in the legal profession; create and enhance awareness of women's contribution to the practice and development of law; provide a professional and social network for women lawyers. AWL is concerned with issues relating to the practice and advancement of women in the legal profession and with a wide range of legal, social justice and equity issues affecting women and children.

Network of Women in Further Education
Ross House, 247-251 Flinders Lane
Melbourne,
VIC 3000 Australia
tel: +61 3 9654 1327
fax: +61 3 9654 6831
email: nowinfe@vicnet.net.au

NOWINFE is an active network of support, stimulation, sharing and communication for all women in Australia. We suport and build connections between women as teachers and learners, at local, community, regional,state and national levels. NOWINFE works for the advancement and empowerment of all women in education and training, through networking and the provision of policy advice. We argue that equity needs to be a central organising principle in education and training policy and practice.

Women in Chemistry
1/21 Vale St.
North Melbourne
VIC 3051 Australia
Tel: +61 3 9328 2808
Fax +61 3 9326 5880

Global Network for Rural Women
11Cohuna Street,
West Brunswick
Melbourn, Victoria, 3055
Australia
Tel: +61 9387 7728
Fax: 61 9207 30001
E-mail: smryer@labyringth.net.au
URL: http://www.erple.net.au/~faawugri/global/

Advances the status, skill and strength of rural women.

Australian Nursing Federation
373 St Georges Rd
Nth Fitzroy
VIC 3068 Australia
Ph +61 3 9482 2722
Fax +61 3 9482 2722
URL: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~anfed/

The ANF is responsible for promoting and protecting the interests of members and in particular, aims to provide professional and industrial leadership for both the nursing industry and the broader health sector. ANF is also responsible for developing and promoting high standards of nursing practice. A main objective of the ANF is to participate in policy-making at a national level. ANF's areas of involvement include health, community services, aged care, education, training, occupational health and safety, industrial relations and law reform. ANF is at the forefront of campaigns to defend nurses' workplace rights and to protect and improve our healthcare system and institutions.

Australian Local Government Women's Association
c/o Knox City Council
Burwood Highway,
Knox, VIC 3152
Australia
Ph: +61 3 92988201
Fax: +61 3 92988296


National Association of Women in Construction
294 Fison Ave.
East Eagle Farm
QLD 4009 Australia
Ph: +61 7 3868 1911
Fax: +61 7 3868 1335
Email: NAWIC@C031.aone.net.au

Association of Women Educators National
Office PO Box 1266
Caloundra QLD 4551
Australia
Phone +61 7 54926088
Fax: +61 7 54926088
email: awe@m141.aone.net.au
URL: http://www.sev.com.au/awe/

AWE is an association committed to the full participation of women and girls in education.

Australian Federation of University Women
Mail Box 28 University of Adelaide
SA 5005 Australia
Phone/Fax +61 8 8303 4945
email: Daphne.Elliott@flinders.edu.au

Society of Women Writers of Australia
20 Walton Street West Launceston
TAS 7205 Australia
ph: +61 3 6334 4558



Victorian Branch The Centre for Leadership for Women
Director: Diann Rodgers-Healey
Tel: (02) 42324211
Email: diann@leadershipforwomen.com.au
URL: http://www.leadershipforwomen.com.au

The Centre aims to be a virtual Centre with the aim of empowering women to recognise their own potential to be Leaders in a work and/or personal context, through experiencing an online environment that allows: women the opportunity to learn from the experiences of leaders, both female and male; undertake self-evaluation; be able to express their personal and professional concerns and needs; and become informed about current leading issues and the individuals who are making it happen.

Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or State Department for other Women's events and clubs. There are also often advertisements in the Community section of your local paper.

'Copyright 2003 Youth 2 Youth'

Disclaimer: This article is for your information, but it may not apply to or be suitable for your situation, so seek professional advice. Youth 2 Youth or Y-Biz Hothouse cannot be held liable for anything resulting from how you use the information provided in this article.