Wimmin’s Work: Unearthing Untold Stories of Women in WA

Photo by Tori Lill via State Library of Western Australia

How a bold partnership is bringing hidden histories to light

By Deborah Leavitt

Women have always shaped Western Australia – but their stories haven’t always made it into the history books. Take WA’s first female ship master for instance. Or the pioneering environmentalist dubbed the “Queen of the Canning River”. Have you heard of Perth’s first female Asian lawyers who fought against racism? And when you think of Western Australia’s FIFO workers, are you picturing women thriving in this male dominated landscape?Women in Media WA (WiM WA), in partnership with the State Library of Western Australia, set out to uncover and share these stories through Wimmin’s Work – a multi-platform storytelling project celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of women across the state. From history-makers to today’s trailblazers, the initiative explores how women have shaped – and continue to shape – Western Australia in ways both visible and invisible, paid and unpaid.Backed by a $10,000 grant from the Department of Communities’ Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future program, the project marked International Women’s Day with a powerful call to remember, record and celebrate.

A public call-out invited early-career journalists, media students, and re-emerging content creators to pitch story ideas and participate in a paid, mentored content creation opportunity. Applicants were asked to profile a woman in their community — a trailblazer, peacemaker, homemaker, risk-taker, mover or shaker — through a 5–7 minute audio, video, or photo-led story, supported by transcripts and imagery.

From 42 strong applications received from across WA, nine creators were selected and commissioned to produce their stories. Each participant received $1,000 and worked closely with an experienced executive producer to shape and refine their final pieces.

The resulting stories are deeply personal and socially significant. They challenge assumptions and celebrate the breadth of women’s experiences — featuring subjects such as WA’s first female ship master, a pioneering environmentalist dubbed the “Queen of the Canning River,” an 80-year-old feminist, one of Perth’s first female Asian lawyers who fought against racism, and a powerful visual essay of women working in FIFO roles.

Photos by Tori Lill via State Library of Western Australia

The project culminated in a live panel discussion with the content makers, hosted at the State Library as part of its women-centred programming in AprilMarch 2025. These stories have since been showcased on Women in Media WA’s social platforms and remain publicly accessible through the State Library’s website.

Beyond the stories themselves, Wimmin’s Work created lasting value for everyone involved. The content makers not only saw their work celebrated in a prominent public forum but also gained professional exposure, valuable mentoring, and peer-to-peer connection. In many ways, the experience embodied the very mission of WiM WA: to support, elevate and connect women working in media. WiM has been approached by local film festivals to showcase the work more broadly.

This successful collaboration demonstrates the power of partnerships in amplifying women’s voices and preserving their stories for future generations.

Explore the full collection of stories here: https://slwa.wa.gov.au/wimminswork