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This Unit addresses Stage 5 of the Australian curriculum Depth Study 3, World War I. It covers the impact of World War I, including the use of propaganda to influence the civilian population, the changing role of women in Australia and the conscription debates, all of which had great significance for the lives of Australian women.  

This Unit is primarily a source study which links Australian women at home during World War I to what was happening in the war as well as their reaction and response to the Australian government's decisions and actions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many studies of Australian women in World War I focus on the role played by nurses at the war front. While these 3,000 women played an important role in the medical and psychological care of the 'boys' overseas, how did the war affect women left at home? Were all women in favour of Australia's participation in the war? What did they do during the war? Were Australian women prominent in supporting the war effort like their British sisters, working in factories, taking over 'men's jobs' and fulfilling non-combatant duties in the military?  How did women cope with long separations? How were women affected by the injuries sustained by the Diggers and their deaths?  The families and loved ones of the 'boys' at home were a critical part of the lives of the Australian soldiers of World War I, and their important role needs to be fully explored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Create a timeline labelled Australian Soldiers During World War I and include the start and end dates of World War I as well as major battles in which the ANZACs were involved:

      *Gallipoli

      *Fromelles

      *Pozieres

      *3rd Battle of Ypres

      *Hamel

      *Villers Bretonneux

      *Mont St Quentin

 

To help you with dates refer to

http://www.the-map-as-history.com/timeline/chronology/first-world-war/#

 

 

*Study the sources below and create a list, identifying some of the various roles Australian women undertook during World War I.

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1915 war census revealed Australia's population was just over 5 million.

 

 

The total Australian death toll at Gallipoli was 8,159.

Activities

*Imagine you are an Australian who has enlisted to fight after the terrible losses of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign.  You know that you will be heading to the battlefields of the Western Front and that will be expected to demonstrate the same qualities of bravery and mateship shown by the ANZACs at Gallipoli. The problem is that you finished school in Year 8 and you don’t know where you’re going! You've heard about France and Germany, but where they exactly are is anyone’s guess!   Using the world map, identify the following places and plot the course your ship will take from Sydney to the Western Front.

 

  • Sydney, NSW

  • Fremantle, WA

  • Colombo (Sri Lanka)

  • Suez Canal

  • Alexandria, Egypt

  • Gallipoli (where you brother fought)

  • Marseille, France

  • Villers Bretonneux, Western Front, France

In this Wix, students can examine the varied aspects of life for Australian women during World War I using a wide variety of contemporary sources featuring photographs, paintings, newspaper articles and visual records. All sources are linked to the original website, allowing students to access further information as required. Each section includes activities which students can undertake.

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