World War 2 : Australia's involvement: Homefront

Includes primary source information

Includes information on conscription, roles for women in WWII, women's auxiliary, food shortages and rationing and Americans in Australia.

People on the home front were expected to make economic and social sacrifices for the war effort. The Curtin Government launched a campaign of “Austerity” in August 1942 and home-front propaganda pushed the concept of “equality of sacrifice”.
Includes links to websites about Austerity, Brisbane Line, Rationing: food, clothing and petrol, Reserved occupations and Victory Gardens.

This clip tells the story of a civilian worker who joined the war by helping to make engines and aircraft for the allies.

What was life like for Australian children during World War II? From 1939 to 1945 Australia was at war. After Japan entered the war in 1941, this conflict became a total war, which affected almost everyone and almost every aspect of life in Australia. Listen to two people who lived through this time sharing their memories of growing up during the war years.

Approximately 3,500 women served in the Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) during the Second World War. Includes links to primary source information.

Approximately 70,000 women served in the women's auxiliary services, such as:
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF)
Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS)
Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)

The lives of many Australian women changed dramatically between 1940 and 1945 when there was pressure for young women to participate in the war effort, particularly in the armed services.

Women would do the technical jobs normally performed by men, freeing those men for combat.

For some women the war provided unprecedented opportunity, for others it was a cause of great unhappiness.

In World War II, women were actively recruited into jobs that had always been the preserve of men; they worked in factories and shipyards, as members of the Women's Land Army and as Official War Artists.

During the official wartime period, Australia had five prime ministers - Robert Menzies, Arthur Fadden, John Curtin, Frank Forde and Ben Chifley.

Robert Gordon Menzies was Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister.

John Curtin’s achievement rests on his leadership of the nation during much of World War II.

Includes information on the war effort, Australia's place on the world stage, party politics, elections and the press and visions for Australia.