Australia's democracy: Votes for Women

This unit of work focuses on those sections of Australia's Democracy: A Short History by John Hirst that examine the struggle for and achievement of votes for women. This study should be undertaken against the background of the development of Australia's political institutions.

The sections of Australia's Democracy that these teaching and learning activities relate to may be downloaded from this site in PDF form. The activities cover pages 74–124, 279–83, 333–7 and page 339 of Australia's Democracy.

The activities are suitable for students of Australian history courses offered at senior secondary levels in all States and Territories. They may also be adapted to suit students of Australian history, Civics and Citizenship, or other Studies of Society and Environment courses at middle secondary level.

When did the struggle begin?
What was the political and social background?
What obstacles did women face?
What were the links between the women's suffrage movement and the temperance movement?
How and when did women achieve participation in the political process?
Assessment tasks and Additional resources

Introduction | When did the struggle begin? | What was the political and social background? | What obstacles did women face? | What were the links between the suffrage and the temperance movements? | How and when did women achieve participation in the political process? | Assessment tasks and Additional resources

Back to Upper Secondary Teaching and Learning Activities