Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc. (AFGW)
Formerly known as the Australian Federation of University Women Inc., AFGW is the national voice of graduate women working through initiatives in Education for the advancement and wellbeing of women and girls. We link women across Australia through our State and Territory Associations (STAs) and local branches to work in friendship, cooperation and understanding with each other and the network of women graduates worldwide.
Through the International Federation of University Women (IFUW) we work with women graduates across all cultures, all fields of study, all professions and all generations to empower women and girls through lifelong education for leadership, decision-making and peace. AFGW Inc. number almost 600 members in all state and territories. New South Wales and Queensland also have active branches, each with its own activities. Some STAs and branches hire academic regalia for graduation ceremonies, to raise funds for our generous fellowships, grants, and bursaries.
The Logo
The logo that presides over all AFGW activity, including advocacy, is derived from the logo designed by members of the Norwegian Federation for the Third IFUW Conference in Oslo in 1924 and adopted by delegates as the permanent badge of IFUW and its national associations. The original showed an antique lamp representing the light of learning on a blue background broken with the letters IFUW. Around the central disc was an interlinked chain symbolizing the bonds of friendship linking IFUW members throughout the world. Eventually the lamp came to be known as the lamp of friendship. It was later modernized and the chain was dropped.
The lamp has been adopted by all national, state, territory and branch associations and adapted to better reflect local goals and activities. Some of the State and territory Associations have also incorporated the lamp in their logos. These are featured on the left sidebar of this website. Click on them for links to their websites. AFGW commissioned the design of a new logo when its name was changed from AFUW to AFGW but retained the lamp. The original lamp logo is not lost or forgotten in Australia. It lives on, through a permanent memorial which is a perfect replica and located at the St Lucia (Brisbane) campus of The University of Queensland. It is of a fountain presented by AFUW to commemorate the 15th conference of IFUW held at The University of Queensland 19-26 August 1965.
Members’ Only Section (under construction)
AFGW announces a new members-only interactive online space. This space provides both a forum where members can exchange messages and information and a members’ directory where members can post their information and see profiles of other AFUW members wordwide. We invite you to visit the forums, create your member’s account and join in the discussions. Please send a message to the AFGW Web Manager afgw.webmanager@gmail.com for the password.
Visit other pages of our site to learn more about our programmes and how you can become part of an international network of women working for change.
