Women's Political Association of Victoria

The Women's Political Association of Victoria (WPA), also known as Women's Political Association and Women's Federal Political Association was founded in State of Victoria, Australia, in 1903 by Vida Goldstein and its purpose was to educate women in political matters. Non-indigenous women had gained the federal vote in and the association initially focussed educating the newly enfranchised women on politics, elections and the running of parliament with meetings, pamphlets, mock elections, and a women's parliament. However it quickly turned to political campaigning for Goldstein's run for Federal Parliament. It supported her through five elections, including three runs for the Senate in 1903, 1910, 1917, and two runs for the lower house seat of Kooyong in 1913 and 1914. In 1904 it joined the fight for women's suffrage in Victoria. And in 1909 it launched it's monthly publication the Woman Voter. In 1919 the Association was disbanded, and the publication ceased when Goldstein decided to resign.