NIRWA was established in Adelaide, SA in 2005
Our History
Overview
In Adelaide, South Australia, in May 2005, NIRWA was established as a national independent body that seeks to advocate for immigrant and refugee women by working to achieve cultural, social, economic and educational gender equality for immigrant and refugee women living in Australia.
As of April 2009 there were 225 organisations and 20,000 individuals who were affiliated with NIRWA. Ninety-eight per cent (98%) are ethno-specific and multicultural women’s associations and groups and the rest are non-government service agencies that provide services from immigrant and refugee women. NIRWA has members in Northern territory, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.
In Detail
In 2004, the Migrant Women’s Lobby Group (MWLG) SA Inc. and the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC) received funding from WomenSpeak to conduct a scoping project related to the setting up of a national network of immigrant and refugee women. The funds were administered by the MWLG, which recruited a part-time, Adelaide-based project officer to help carry out the task.
The Association of Non-English Speaking Background Women of Australia (ANESBWA) operated for about 12 years but was de-funded in 1998. Thereafter it functioned on the strength of friendship support and volunteer time, but it was felt by many that financial capacity was vital to achieve an effective national voice for immigrant and refugee women. In that sense, the new project strove to re-vitalize the network.
Initial communications about the proposed new network took the form of a brief project outline, introduced as follows:
A short-term project is looking at setting up a national network of immigrant and refugee women. Its broad aim is to facilitate the collection, collation, coordination and dissemination of information so that these women’s issues can be raised and heard in a focused, coordinated way, resulting in a strong and unified voice for immigrant and refugee women. An independent, effectively structured network could contribute greatly to meaningful dialogue and representative advocacy strategies.
Stage One
Thanks to the amount of interest and support from groups and individuals nationwide contacts were established and a steering group with members from all States and Territories was formed.
Stage Two
A nationwide questionnaire was developed to canvas people’s views about the network. It asked general questions regarding the advantages (if not necessity) of having a network, and many other more specific questions about its operation and structure – such as: communicating with women at the grassroots level; location and frequency of meetings; the most effective combination of face-to-face and electronic contact; a fixed or rotating network base; financial arrangements, including funding for the base or secretariat, sharing of travel & communication expenses, income options, accounting requirements; planning and review; membership structure.
The questionnaire responses reflected clear enthusiasm for and commitment to a national network, and people expressed well-considered, constructive points of view. Having a face-to-face conference was widely seen as a priority, so that structural issues could be discussed and resolved sooner rather than later.
The conference
Adelaide hosted a national conference on 20 and 21 May 2005, which was attended by 16 representatives from all States and Territories of Australia, as well as a number of MWLG members.
The proceedings were characterised by a positive, future-oriented approach.
The conference was seen as a time to discuss the past, present and future and highlighted the need for NIRWA to put down a solid foundation.
Nirwa representatives and interstate conference participants formed an Interim Council to work on a number of issues, including membership/incorporation, funding, and a communications protocol. Small groups worked on a statement of purpose with a set of guiding principles for the network.
NIRWA was formed.
NIRWA became incorporated and received its Australian business number (ABN) in 2008.
