“Australian Federation of Graduate Women (AFGW)  is the national voice of graduate women working for the advancement and well-being of women and girls through education.”

Welcome to the Sunshine Coast Branch

1. We are a network of women graduates living on the Sunshine Coast which primarily meets for friendship, mutual support and intellectual stimulation.  Our parent branch GWQ is based in Brisbane.
2. Members come from diverse cultural, social and professional backgrounds in Australia and overseas.
3. Close ties have been established with the University of the Sunshine Coast.
4. GWQ Sunshine Coast was formerly AFUWQ Sunshine Coast.  The name change occurred in 2010.

Are you a woman who:

• wants to make contact with women of similar interests;
• enjoys functions with a purpose and with stimulating guest speakers;
• finds raising funds to support the education of women students a worthwhile activity;
• takes pleasure in reading and discussing a wide of range of literature and topics.

Then, GWQ Sunshine Coast may be the organisation for you.  Some of the varied activities for members:

• breakfast meetings (with speakers)
• book discussion groups
• special interest functions
• informal social gatherings
• book sale
• hosting refugee students
• gowning of graduands
• postgraduate mentoring at USC

Bursaries

GWQ-SC offers a number of bursaries for women undertaking undergraduate and honours degrees at the University of the Sunshine Coast. April 17 was the closing date for applications. The awardees will be announced at a later date.

Sunshine Coast Branch members attend the recent AFGW 35th Triennial Conference

Five of the SC members who attended the Conference are pictured at the art show in front of two paintings by Branch member, Val Ross. Full report of the Conference is available at the AFGW Members’ Section of the AFGW website www.afgw.org.au/members-section (password required). There were some excellent high-profile speakers at the Public Day.  All addressed the theme of Women, Work and Education with personal anecdotes and discerning insights into barriers to women’s participation in work and education.  Transcripts of their addresses are also available at the AFGW website.

 Current President Bernice Anderson, a member since 2003