The Australian Women Writers (AWW) initiative was founded in 2012 to address the gender disparity in the literary landscape by promoting and reviewing works by Australian women authors. Initially inspired by the VIDA report and the Stella Count, which highlighted the under-representation of female authors in literary criticism, AWW began as a reading and reviewing challenge spearheaded by Elizabeth Lhuede and later managed by Theresa Smith.

The AWW blog has spent the past decade bringing attention to a wide array of female writers across various genres, including Indigenous authors, writers with disabilities, and LGBTQI voices. Though the blog has shifted its focus from contemporary works to spotlighting 19th- and early to mid-20th-century female writers—those who may have been overlooked due to historical biases—it continues to foster a community of readers and reviewers. The AWW encourages ongoing engagement through their social media groups and remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the rich tapestry of Australian women's literature.