What is the Australian Women's Land Army?
The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) was created in Australia on the 27th of July 1942 during World War II. It organised Australian women to be employed by farmers to replace the males that went to war. The AWAL was modelled on the Women's Land Army in Great Britain.
The AWAL was not an enlisted program but rather a voluntary group were members were paid by the farmers that they worked for rather then the government or military forces.
The minimum age to join the Australian Women's Land Army was 18 and the maximum age was 50 years old. To join the AWAL you could only be from the UK or have British blood in you. Women in the AWAL were generally from urban areas and often weren't skilled in rural work. They quickly learnt how to work and started working on farms and in factories in urban areas. The women in AWAL worked up to 48 hours a week and were paid a minimum of 30 shillings a week. Permanent employees were entitled to sick pay. Women were paid less than males even if they worked at the same jobs. A 'Land Army' was established in each state of Australia and managed that state's rural needs.
The Australian Women's Land Army had two divisions:
The AWAL was not an enlisted program but rather a voluntary group were members were paid by the farmers that they worked for rather then the government or military forces.
The minimum age to join the Australian Women's Land Army was 18 and the maximum age was 50 years old. To join the AWAL you could only be from the UK or have British blood in you. Women in the AWAL were generally from urban areas and often weren't skilled in rural work. They quickly learnt how to work and started working on farms and in factories in urban areas. The women in AWAL worked up to 48 hours a week and were paid a minimum of 30 shillings a week. Permanent employees were entitled to sick pay. Women were paid less than males even if they worked at the same jobs. A 'Land Army' was established in each state of Australia and managed that state's rural needs.
The Australian Women's Land Army had two divisions:
- Full-time members/employees. These women were enrolled for 12 months or more. These members received the right badges, uniforms and equipment that was required.
- Part-time members/employees; These women worked for never less then four weeks a year. They were used for seasonal rural operations and received a badge, uniform and equipment that they needed only on loan.