Join us for Book+Author, the HCV Book Club in 2023: Jane Carey in conversation with Katherine Sheedy about her book, Taking to the Field.

'Taking to the Field is the first comprehensive history of Australian women in science from the colonial period to contemporary times. This untold story shows that women have played a greater role than is commonly recognised. From the first years of colonisation, women engaged in myriad scientific endeavours, ranging from botany to genetics to organic chemistry. There was a vibrant culture of women in science in the years up to 1945 – as academics, researchers, lab workers, teachers, writers and activists for science-based social reform. They outnumbered men in some fields.'

Free and online, please book below.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Australian Midwifery History Project would like to present our new website: https://australianmidwiferyhistory.org.au/.

The website outlines the history of midwifery in Australia as well as that of the Australian College of Midwives; it is the only site in Australia that contains this comprehensive source of information.  Launched in December 2021, the site is a living history project so we are continuously adding new historical material as colleagues, families, local communities and others share valuable information and memories with us.  

As you know, midwifery is one of the oldest recorded professions. All towns and cities throughout history would have had a local midwife. These women were important members of their communities. Besides attending women in childbirth, they were often the person who was called to assist families around death and dying.

Older members of your family or someone you know may have memories of one of these ‘Granny Midwives’ or of one of the growing number of professionally trained midwives who practised in the first half of the 20^th Century in Australia. You may have knowledge of midwifery and childbirth for First Nations people, pre-colonisation. If so, we would love to hear from you on [email protected].

The website is for all who have an interest in the history of midwifery and childbirth in Australia. Please peruse at your leisure. 

March is Women's History Month!

This is a collaborative calendar that lists public events for Women's History Month. The events are hosted by a range of organisations - government, academic, professional and community-based - in the history sector.

If you are organising an event during March 2023, and if it relates to Women's History, we encourage you to publicise it here. We are using the #WomensHistoryMonth hashtag on social media and will help publicise your event.

Click on the 'Host your own event' button at the foot of this page to get started. Please note that there may be a delay (for moderation) before your event becomes visible on the website. Please email our Executive Officer on [email protected] to advise when you have added an event.

To download the Women's History Month logos to use on your promotions, please click here: Women's History Month logos

The concept of Women's History Month was revived by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria during 2019 with support from several interested organisations. This calendar is hosted by the History Council of Victoria.

Entries for the Lynette Russell Prize for First Peoples' History in Schools are now open.

The prize will be awarded based on a project for Foundation to Year 10 that displays knowledge, engagement and creativity, taking into consideration the year level of the student/s. The project submitted may take any form: written, visual, digital or performative. It may be a project or work completed in class or outside of class as an additional activity.

Examples might include:

• School gardening program that follows a First Nations’ seasonal calendar and weather knowledge.
• Projects that focus on First Peoples' lives and events.
• Exploration of school’s activities around Reconciliation.

Award

The prize will consist of a cash payment of $500 and a certificate. The use of the prize will be determined by the teacher or Koori Engagement Support Officer, as appropriate, in consultation with students.

Winners will also be recognised with acknowledgement via the HCV’s publications and social media, and a year-long membership of the Friends of the HCV. 

The prize was established by Professor Lynette Russell AM to encourage the creative engagement and deeper knowledge of a wider number of primary and secondary school students in this area.

Resources

Possible resources can be found here: 

Aboriginal Change Makers Y7-10 resource

NAIDOC Educational Resources

VAEAI Resources

Please apply online here: https://forms.gle/YfgUm4PGZYkeYDYZ6

A preview of the application form can be viewed here Form Preview 2023

Terms and conditions

The prize will be awarded at the discretion of the judging panel (as outlined under ‘Selection process’ below). The prize could be awarded to an individual student, a group of students or a class in years F-10 for a project that focusses on Australian First Peoples.

Eligibility

Applicants must be undertaking their schooling in Victoria.

Nominations

Students, groups or classes will be nominated by their educators or Koori Engagement Support Officer as appropriate. Applications are required to provide:

• a digital or hard copy of the project or, if that is not possible, a detailed description and samples.
• a completed entry form listing name, contact details, signature and date. The closing date for applications is 31 July each year.

Selection process

The Schools Prize for First Peoples’ History will be administered by a judging panel of three members with expertise in education and appointed by the Board of the HCV, consisting of a Board member as chair and including at least one First Nations person. The decision of the panel will be final.

The HCV welcomes enquiries from individuals and organisations that wish to sponsor awards and prizes in areas relating to history and the work of historians. 

The HCV also welcomes donations at any time. All contributions help to support our work towards achieving our cultural purposes. Donations over $2 are deductible for Australian tax-payers.

Entries for the Jane Hansen Prize are now open.

The Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy was established in 2020 to recognise the efforts of a group or individual that has advocated for the value of history, the work of historians and/or the importance of an education in history.

The prize is named in honour of Ms Jane Hansen AO whose passion for history and its advocacy is widely acknowledged. Through the Hansen Little Foundation, which aims to create a legacy of significant and positive change that inspires and enables Australians, Ms Hansen has provided generous philanthropic support for history and historians in a number of organisations, including the History Council of Victoria.

Please enter here: https://forms.gle/6cJSgpTNjH8UcsaDA

A preview of the form can be viewed here: Preview Form

Background

The winner will be announced in conjunction with the HCV's Annual Lecture in October each year.

An annual prize of $500 is offered. Winners will also be recognised with a certificate, acknowledgement via the HCV’s publications and social media, and year-long membership to the HCV Friends.

Nominations (by others, or by self) will require the submission of examples of the person's advocacy of history (e.g. through radio, tv, newspaper, social media, letter-writing etc.) plus the results and responses.

This prize is administered by the Board of the HCV.

We announced the winner of the inaugural Jane Hansen Prize for Advocacy at our Annual Lecture in October 2021.

You can read our press release here: Jane_Hansen_Prize_for_History_Advocacy_-_Press_release.pdf

The HCV welcomes enquiries from individuals and organisations that wish to sponsor awards and prizes in areas relating to history and the work of historians. 

The HCV also welcomes donations at any time. All contributions help to support our work towards achieving our cultural purposes. Donations over $2 are deductible for Australian tax-payers.

The 2020 Making Public Histories webinar series was presented as a joint initiative of Monash University, the Old Treasury Building and the History Council of Victoria.

Since 2015, the HCV has been pleased to sponsor the Years 9 and 10 category of the Historical Fiction Competition organised by the History Teachers' Association of Victoria. 

In 2020, the HCV inaugurated the Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy.

In 2021, the HCV inaugurated the Lynette Russell Prize for First Peoples' History in Schools.

Many career pathways benefit from the study of history at post-secondary level.

• Where can history take you? Print resource
• Why choose the Humanities? Presentation
• [email protected] - Humanities21 Interview with Historian Alicia Cerreto
• Report on careers of history graduates
• Careers in Humanities resources highlight the key skills that students develop when they study Humanities, as well as the career pathways they can pursue.

The Careers in Humanities resources were created by project partners from the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria, the Geography Teachers’ Association of Victoria, Social Education Victoria, the Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools, the History Council of Victoria, Humanities 21, and the Professional Historians Association (Victoria & Tasmania).

The project partners would like to acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government and the Department of Education and Training.

All who RSVP for a Making Public Histories event will automatically be added to the mailing list for the History Council of Victoria's free E-news bulletin. Explore past editions here.

If you have suggestions for future seminar topics in the Making Public Histories series, please email us.

You can follow us on social media:

Twitter:   #MakingPublicHistories   @History_Vic   @Monash_Arts   @OldTreasuryMelb      

Facebook:   History Council of Victoria   History at Monash University   Old Treasury Building

Here are some additional ways to stay involved with the organisations who make these events happen: 

History Council of Victoria

• Endorse the Value of History, a statement developed co-operatively by the HCV and the History Councils of New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
  
  
• Sign up as a Friend of the HCV. Friends can add their own history-related events in Victoria to the HCV's shared calendar.

• Donations are always welcome. Amounts over $2 are tax-deductible for Australian tax-payers.

Monash University

• Search News and Events in the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies.

• Join the community of supporters who donate or leave a bequest to Monash. 

Old Treasury Building

• Subscribe to the free OTB Gazette by providing your email address in the 'Keep up-to-date' box at the foot of the Home page.

• Become a Volunteer.

• Provide financial support by submitting your details through the contact form.

Precis of 2020 activities

Summary of activities to do from home in 2020

26 November 2020: E-news 50

21 October 2020: E-news 49

5 October 2020: E-news 48

4 September 2020: E-news 47

7 August 2020: E-news 46

25 June 2020: E-news 45

28 May 2020: E-news 44

May 2020: Welcome to Alicia Cerreto as the HCV Deputy Executive Officer

21 April 2020: E-news 43

23 March 2020: E-news 42

March 2020: Welcome to Professor Peter McPhee as the HCV Chair

3 March 2020: E-news 41 

4 February 2020: E-news 40