National History Challenge
The National History Challenge awards were presented by the Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard, at Parliament House on 24 November. Winner of the Women's Category, which is sponsored by NFAW, was Alix Biggs from Canberra. Her essay titled The Obstacles Overcome by Australia's Japanese War Brides can be viewed here. Alix was also judged the ACT Young Historian 2009.
The National History Challenge is an exciting contest that encourages students from years 5 to 12 to use research and inquiry based learning to discover more about Australia and its past.
NFAW is proud to sponsor the Women's Category of the National History Challenge. Originally this category was sponsored by NFAW's Women's History Month Project, and now the NFAW National History Challenge Committee takes responsibility for raising sponsorship funds for the women's category each year.
Including a women's category in this competition has a significant impact, raising the awareness of Australian school children of the role played by women in Australia's history.
The theme for 2009 is "Triumph over Adversity" The theme for the Women's category is "Women Beating the Odds".
All students who participate in the National History Challenge receive a Certificate of Participation. Each Australian State and Territory has a coordinator, and State and Territory judging is undertaken locally. The National Judging takes place in October to determine category winners and the Young Historian of the Year finalists. From these finalists, the Young Historian of the Year is chosen. The prizes are presented to the winner at Parliament House, Canberra.
The History Teachers' Association of Australia conducts the National History Challenge each year. Details about the Challenge and how to enter are available on the National History Challenge website.
Sponsors of other special categories in the National History Challenge include the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Old Parliament House and the National Archives of Australia.