The Society
The Australian Society for the Study of Labour History is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1961 to study “the working class situation … and social history in the fullest sense”. The Society encourages teaching and research in labour history and the preservation of the records of working people and the labour movement. It desires to make history a vital part of popular consciousness and a matter for reflection and debate.
It relies on the passion and energies of its members and has six branches across Australia. Each holds events and documents their region’s history, commemorating the long activist tradition of workers in Australia and the world. We would love you to join us. Here, you can read more about who we are and what we do.
The Journal
In association with Liverpool University Press, the Society publishes Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History. The interdisciplinary nature of labour history, and its acceptance of less traditional sources, including folklore and oral testimony, make it a fascinating field, alive to past and present social justice issues. Since 1962, the journal has been published twice yearly. It is the premier outlet for refereed, scholarly articles in its field in Australasia. The journal is edited by Professor Diane Kirkby. Click here to learn more about the journal.
The Editorship
Labour History is looking for a new Editor to replace Diane Kirkby whose term ends in July 2024. The appointment will be made before the end of this year by the Federal Executive of the ASSLH. The new editor will start in February 2024 to help prepare the May 2025 issue. The Editor leads a team of Associate Editors who play an important role in supporting the editorial work.
Anyone interested in the position should send an Expression of Interest outlining their credentials, publishing record and a statement of vision for the journal, to admin@labourhistory.org.au by 31 August 2023. The Editorial policy, list of Associate Editors and members of the Editorial Board can all be found on this website. Any questions should be directed to the current Editor, diane.kirkby@uts.edu.au.
Call for Papers – (Re)Sources: Historical Inquiry and Labour History Archives
OUT NOW: Labour History, no. 123
History Council of Western Australia Award
Seminar Series: Labour History | Looking Ahead After Sixty Years
Launch of Radical Currents, Labour Histories
Labour History Prizes
Vale Stuart Macintyre
