Changemakers Exhibition (2022)

The Changemakers exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House Canberra celebrates the activists, icons and allies behind 120 years of women’s rights in Australia.

The Changemakers exhibition, which opened on the 21st of June 2022, explores the remarkable stories of activists and trailblazers from many walks of life, from Edna Ryan’s campaign for equal pay in 1974 to Nyadol Nyuon’s advocacy for refugee women today, to the incredible work of activists Ash Barty, Chanel Contos, Rosie Batty, Barbara Cummings, and Louisa Lawsone to name but a few.

Guest curated by award-winning journalist and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger, Changemakers gives a voice to the role women have played in Australia's democracy via a series of images, objects, and videos while leading visitors through themes of equality, financial independence, birth and care roles, the challenges of gender and race, and more. This collection includes a series of 16 textile banners created by artist Tal Fitzpatrick in collaboration with Kait James, Amy Claire Mills, Guy Ritani and Sofia Fitzpatrick.

Changemakers was opened with a Welcome to Country by Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder Matilda House and a video introduction by Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard that was then followed by a keynote presentation from Australia's fist female Governor General Dame Quentin Bryce and a Q&A session led by journalist Annabel Crabb that included: former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, journalist and exhibition creator Virginia Haussegger, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, historian Professor Marilyn Lake, NSW Young Liberal President Deyi Wu, NSW Greens Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi and artists Dr Tal Fitzpatrick and Guy Ritani.

The exhibition will be open to the public until June 2024.

The 16 banners created for this exhibition have been acquired by the Museum of Australian Democracy and will remain in their permanent collection.