National Council of Women South Australia - NCWSA

We're pleased to announce the next event in our The Answer Is Human Rights national seminar series is in Adelaide:
📅 Thursday 25 June, 5.30pm – 7pm
📍U City, 43 Franklin St, Adelaide City

Presented in partnership with Equal Opportunity South Australia and as part of our 40 Years program, this FREE event will focus on how we can fix wrongs with rights, such as concerns around social cohesion, the right to peaceful protest, housing affordability, economic inequality, and the impact of climate change and digital technologies.

Featuring a panel of leading local and national human rights advocates, it’s a not-to-be missed event for anyone who cares about keeping our democracy healthy and strong as well as ensuring Australia and South Australia are just, equal and inclusive places where everyone can feel safe and have opportunities to thrive.

REGISTER NOW: https://loom.ly/NQw5os4

Great post from Lainie Anderson about a former NCWSA State President, Adelaide Miethke OBE!

Introducing the amazing Adelaide Miethke, an education pioneer and champion of women's rights. I cannot believe I didn't know her name. Born in Manoora, near Clare in 1881, Adelaide's father was a Prussian-born schoolteacher. Here are just some of her achievements ...

📔 In 1914 she began a campaign to raise the status of female high school teachers, particularly new teachers facing classes of 60 or 70!

📔 In 1916 she became the first woman Vice-President of the South Australian Public School Teachers’ Union, winning small salary increases for teachers a few years later.

📔 In 1924 (after studying at night) she gained her BA and was appointed as the first female Inspector of High Schools.

📔 In 1934 she became state president of the National Council of Women, which included running the SA Women’s Centenary Council and organising events and activities to celebrate 100 years of white settlement in 1936. These included the Pageant of Empire, with 13,600 schoolchildren twice performing on Adelaide Oval in front of 40,000 spectators (Adelaide used a megaphone to keep the kids under control). The Women’s Centenary Council also raised £5000 for what became the Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT. They created the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden in Adelaide. And they produced an illustrated history of women in South Australia (the beautiful book I showed you a week or so back).

📔 From 1941 to 1945 Adelaide directed the Schools Patriotic Fund, raising over £400,000 for the war effort and other initiatives including the RFDS (she was now state president) and a city hostel for country girls.

📔 From 1941 to 1946 she edited the Children’s Hour, a magazine distributed monthly to SA school children (which is such a coincidence because just yesterday I went to Wakefield Press to buy HOURS TO REMEMBER, Heather Bonnin's book about the Children's Hour).

📔 And in 1950 (at 69 years of age) she conceived and established the world’s first School of the Air!

Adelaide was known to be a stickler for protocol, a formidable teacher and inspector, and highly organised. Most of all, she got things done! A household name in Adelaide, she was appointed OBE in 1937 and died at her Woodville home in 1962. She was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery. The Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten in Woodville South is named in her honour.

Adelaide, we salute you!

📷 National Council of Women in South Australia, courtesy History Trust of South Australia and the SA History Hub.
📕 History Trust of South Australia, and a great article by Dr Helen Jones, author of IN HER OWN NAME about the history of women in SA from 1836. https://tinyurl.com/2uah9e6v
📕 Royal Flying Doctor Service: https://tinyurl.com/mt5sdd9s

The Midterm Conference of the National Council of Women of Australia marks a significant point within our triennium—a time to reconnect, reflect, and reaffirm our shared purpose.

Bringing together members from across the nation this gathering provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and shape the collective advocacy agenda for the years ahead. As a volunteer-led organisation, our strength lies not only in our work, but in the fellowship and camaraderie that sustain it.

Open to all NCW members, Constituent Councils, affiliated organisations and supporters.

When: Sunday 28th June and Monday 29th June 2026

Venue: Museum of Democracy, Old Parliament House, Canberra

Conference Registration cost: • Member NCWA: $225 • Non-Members: $260

We hope to see you there!

National Council of Women Australia Midterm Conference Register on Humanitix - National Council of Women Australia Midterm Conference. Hosted on Humanitix. Sunday 28th June 2026. Find event information.

How great to see our historical women recognised - including Catherine Helen Spence who was instrumental in getting our Council started!

Congratulations

Over the past few months, we have been pleased to be part of many events held by our member organisations or friends of NCWSA. Here are some of the highlights!

🌊 Zonta Club of the Fleurieu Peninsula's Women's Expo at Victor Harbor
🌳 Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills' Women's Expo at Mitcham
🪻 The Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden's 85th Anniversary where our President, Claire, was the Guest Speaker
🕯️ Embolden's Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness Day, coming together with many others across the nation to remember those who have lost their lives to DFV.

Did you know that Adelaide Climate Action Week - ACAW week is coming?

27 Jul – 2 Aug 2026

Adelaide Climate Action Week (ACAW) exists to catalyse South Australia's transition to a climate-resilient, net-zero future by connecting grassroots communities with government, industry, and research leaders.

Data shows that climate change and climate disaster disproportionately affects women and girls. You might be interested to hear and contribute to the conversations.

Bringing together all levels of society — from concerned parents to boardroom decision-makers — to demonstrate that effective climate action requires everyone at the table.

South Australia's inaugural community-led climate festival. A week of ideas, action, art, culture, and connection.

Follow the link for more details:

Adelaide Climate Action Week | 27 July – 2 August 2026 South Australia's first statewide climate action festival. Join us July 27 – August 2, 2026 for evidence-based climate action, community events, and leadership.

SA Women of Impact Awards
Nominations for the SA Women of Impact Awards are open.

The South Australian Women of Impact Awards formally recognise the outstanding service and significant contributions of women in South Australia. Held annually, the Awards acknowledge and celebrate the diversity and commitment of women who create positive change and help create a safer and more equitable South Australia.

The Office for Women strongly encourages nominations of women from diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Women, those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community, women with disabilities and other minority groups.

Awards categories and descriptions
Impact in Industry Award
This Award is to recognise a woman who makes an enduring commitment and impact within their industry, which brings about significant and lasting change. It highlights the commitment, innovation and leadership required to produce effective outcomes.

Impact in the Community Award
This Award is to recognise a woman whose work has a transformative impact on their community. It highlights a woman who brings about positive change to improve the lives of those in the community by fostering equality and diversity and demonstrates what can be achieved through purposeful action.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Impact Award
This Award is to recognise an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman who consistently contributes, advocates and challenges the status quo. It highlights an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman’s leadership towards a shared community vision, a striving for parity, and inclusivity of her peers.

Impact on ending Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Award
This Award is to recognise a woman who has contributed tirelessly towards working to end domestic, family and sexual violence. It highlights the time, skills and dedication put towards making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by domestic, family and sexual violence and demonstrates a commitment to long-term social change and a future free of violence for all SA women and girls.

Nominations close 15 June 2026 at 5.00 pm

https://dhssa.advancedforms.squiz.cloud/form/sa-women-of-impact-award-nomination-2026

We are now on Instagram at .southaustralia ! You can find our page at: www.instagram.com/ncw.southaustralia

Please give our page a follow to see more of our work and impact in South Australia.