Benvenuti – Welcome

A warm welcome to the National Italian-Australian Women’s Association – NIAWA. We’ve been around for almost 40 years and are undergoing some exciting changes to ensure we continue to shine the light on the extraordinary contribution women of Italian heritage have made to Australian society.

This site is currently being updated with thanks to the support of the Council of the City of Canada Bay. We hope to bring you a refreshed site in early 2025.

NIAWA delivers a year-round program of events to shine the light on important social and cultural themes. For information about these contact our secretariat or follow us on Facebook @NIAWASydney.

In 2025, NIAWA will celebrate our 4oth anniversary with great pride as we celebrate our past and look towards the future. We look forward to marking this milestone with some major activities that will be joyous, enriching and inclusive. Stay tuned for updates about these.

Recent Events

21 October 2024: XXIV Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo – an evening with leading Italian journalist and historian Giordano Bruno Guerri

15 June 2024: Il Salotto – Figli di una cultura di mezzo – in conversation with Nadia Fonteddu, Sara Coggiola and Manuela Rispoli

11 May 2024: Grandi Madri – exploring the lives of Francesca Armento, Adelaida Gigli and Maria Bergamas

9 March 2024: International Women’s Day event with Melina Marchetta, writer of Looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca.

NIAWA delivers some of its events with the Dante Alighieri Society. It gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Bay Club as host venue for its events.

Guest at NIAWA’s October event

The National Italian- Australian Women’s Association is the very first and only Italian women’s association in Australia. It was founded in 1985 by a group of Italian-Australian women who wanted to have their voices heard and the contribution they made to the Australian society duly recognised.

“I can still remember our very first meeting, a late afternoon in January 1985, when I invited a group of women from an Italian background to come to a meeting in Parliament House, in Sydney, to discuss the forming of an Association of Italian–Australian women.”
The Honourable Franca Arena, AM, MLC
Promoter, Founder and Honorary Life President of the Italian-Australian Women’s Association

The National Italian–Australian Women’s Association aims to ensure that future generations will take pride in the achievements of Italian women despite the struggles, loneliness and isolation they felt due to language difficulties and other barriers encountered as migrants in Australia.

The National Italian–Australian Women’s Association today makes several important contributions to Australian multicultural life. It recognises the accomplishments and contributions of women of Italian heritage to Australian society. It acknowledges that these women are not simply the mothers, daughters and sisters of Italian men. They are progressive, competent and worthy of respect. They also have always been a great force in balancing the old world with the new, between the Italian traditions and the Australian customs. They are the true keepers of the Italian heritage amongst the new generations of Italian-Australians. They have made an enormous and enduring impact to Australia.