AWMA was established in 2018 by gender equality advocate and Helpmann Award winning Music Producer Vicki Gordon in response to the chronic gender inequality across all areas of the Australian music industry. AWMA highlights women as vital, essential contributors to the future growth of the Australian Music Industry acknowledging and celebrating the value of women, non binary and GNC people, leading the way on diversity and inclusion to ensure that gender equality is prioritised as a ‘core’ music industry value. AWMA amplifies positive role models to address gender biases, breaking down cultural barriers which reinforce negative stereotypes and have prevented women from succeeding for decades. Our aim is to address the underlying challenges impacting on women and diverse groups ie. safety, empowerment, leadership, representation and gender parity. We work with First Nations female artists from Regional and Remote communities, with multi-cultural artists and music practitioners, emerging and established artists, students, disabled artists and elders to encourage meaningful connections and build networks. AWMA provides internships in a safe and supportive environment for female students working in traditionally male dominated areas such as marketing, technical and production roles. AWMA supports and promotes the participation of artists, musicians and music practitioners across all genres of music including rock, pop, classical music, electronica, jazz, folk, country, R&B, heavy music, opera and more. In 2023, Australian Women in Music Awards & Conference Program will be presented over two days in Brisbane on 26 - 27 September. The Award Ceremony and Concert will be streamed on Iview on Friday evening 29 September and broadcast on the main channel of ABC TV on Saturday afternoon 30 September.