Skip to content

Records of the Black Women's Action in Education Foundation
MSS 291

Collection Title

Records of the Black Women's Action in Education Foundation

Collection Identifier

MSS 291

Inclusive date(s)

1975 to 2000

Extent and Medium

21 boxes + 1 oversize + 1 plan cabinet

Category

Other

Subject: Person(s)

Collection Description

This collection comprises correspondence, membership records, newsletters, financial records and publications relating to the Black Women's Action in Education Foundation (BWAEF), now the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Educational Foundation.

Administrative / Biographical history

Founded in the 1970s as Black Women's Action, the Black Women's Action in Education Foundation. Initially a community information group, the group published newsletters and funded small enterprises. In 1979, the BWA raised the funds for one of the founders, Roberta Sykes [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Sykes ], to attend Harvard University. She became the first black Australian to graduate from an American university, earning her PhD in education in 1983.

After Dr Sykes returned to Australia, she led the organisation in fundraising for the Indigenous community and other students. The organisation raised funds for other students to attend Harvard University and financially assisted activist and Indigenous leader Shirley 'Mum Shirl' Coleen.

In 1990, Black Women's Action was registered as a tax-deductible foundation. The name was changed to Black Women's Action in Education Foundation (BWAEF). This reflected a focus on education initiatives; over the next fifteen years, funds raised by BWAEF supported Indigenous students' study in Australia and overseas.

In 2003, Sykes stepped back from an active role in leadership of the BWAEF after a serious illness. Through the Trustees of the organisation, including Marcia Langton, Brian Syron, Lili Tuwai, Uncle Rob Bryant, Jackie Huggins, Jilpia, Jones the Foundation continued to support students until 2006.

In 2008, the organisation changed its name to the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation (RSIEF). A new Board was appointed, led by Principle Danny Gilbert, including Peter Waters, Jilpia Jones, Shireen Malamoo, Mark McMillan, Richard Potok and Nicole Watson as trustees. Dr Richard Potok also served as Executive Director.

In 2019, the RSIEF continues to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake postgraduate study. Programs include executive education courses, a scholarship for women managers, an international study tour and a scholarship for Indigenous students to go to Harvard University.

References:

Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation. (no date). About the Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.robertasykesfoundation.com/about.html, 23/01/2019.

Acquisition Details

The collection was donated by Roberta Sykes in six consignments from 1992 - 2000.

Scope and Content

Organisational papers of the Black Women's Action in Education Foundation (BWAEF). This includes membership forms and lists, correspondence. The collection includes financial and tax records, including invoices and sponsorship material. There are also published materials and ephemera such as pamphlets and posters.

Access Restrictions

Other

Access: Open Access

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy.

Copying: No copying is approved without approval of the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation.

Existence and Location of Orginals

Special Collections, UNSW Canberra

Related and Separated Materials

Related Material

The papers of Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes are held by the National Library of Australia, MS 10389. A Finding Aid is available online: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-734991123/findingaid

Disclaimer

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed above. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy.

Loading...

Items in Collection

Loading...