Australian Information Service
Encyclopedia
The Australian Information Service was one of a series of federal government
organisations created to promote the image of Australia
. The agency existed from 1973
to 1986
.
The Department of Information was created in 1947
to promote the Australian lifestyle and Australian events overseas, particularly to intending post-war migrants
In 1950
the agency was renamed the Australian News and Information Bureau (ANIB). In 1973, under the Whitlam Government
, it was again renamed as the Australian Information Service.
The Department of Information was established to ‘undertake the large publicity campaign necessary to support Australia’s war effort’. This campaign was centred principally on increasing and sustaining the people’s faith in the cause for which they were fighting, and sought to gain support for the government’s security and fundraising activities and distribute ‘sound’ facts on the war and its progress.
The activities of the Department were extensive and various, and when, in 1981, two packets of ‘historical’ photographs of a rural Victorian town were returned to Australia by the New York office of the Australian Information Service, a small but fascinating example of those activities came to light.
The photographs were taken by Jim Fitzpatrick, an official war photographer with the A.I.S., who was sent in 1944 to document the impact of the war on the population of the dairying town of Drouin. The 88 photographs that the Drouin Collection comprises focus on the town's people as a community and also on a more personal level. There are portraits of individuals and family groups, photographs of people working and socialising and images of the town going about its business. We learn from the extended captions still attached to most of the photographs people’s names, ages, occupations, their fathers’ occupations, whether they are married or not, and what their hopes are for the future. The people of Drouin are portrayed with an unusual degree of freedom and candour made possible, perhaps, because Fitzpatrick knew that his portrait of the town was not intended for Australian eyes. For Fitzpatrick’s assignment was part of an extensive publicity campaign to convince our allies, particularly the Americans, that we were ‘shouldering our full share of the burdens of war’.
In 1986, the Australian Information Service was renamed as Promotion Australia and in 1987
it became the Australian Overseas Information Service (AOIS). In 1994
the AOIS became a branch in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
: the International Public Affairs Branch.
As an addendum - some "dodgy" telemarketers will say they are from "Australian Information Services" and as with most telemarketers will hang up when you show no interest.
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
organisations created to promote the image of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The agency existed from 1973
1973 in Australia
-Incumbents:*Queen of Australia – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Sir Paul Hasluck*Prime Minister – Gough Whitlam*Premier of New South Wales – Sir Robert Askin*Premier of South Australia – Don Dunstan*Premier of Queensland – Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen...
to 1986
1986 in Australia
-Incumbents:*Queen of Australia – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Sir Ninian Stephen*Prime Minister – Bob Hawke*Premier of New South Wales – Neville Wran, then Barrie Unsworth*Premier of South Australia – John Bannon...
.
The Department of Information was created in 1947
1947 in Australia
See also:1946 in Australia,other events of 1947,1948 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.-Incumbents:*Monarch – King George VI*Governor-General – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester , then William McKell...
to promote the Australian lifestyle and Australian events overseas, particularly to intending post-war migrants
In 1950
1950 in Australia
See also:1949 in Australia,other events of 1950,1951 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.-Incumbents:*Monarch – King George VI*Governor-General – William McKell*Prime Minister – Robert Menzies- State Premiers :...
the agency was renamed the Australian News and Information Bureau (ANIB). In 1973, under the Whitlam Government
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, it was again renamed as the Australian Information Service.
The Department of Information was established to ‘undertake the large publicity campaign necessary to support Australia’s war effort’. This campaign was centred principally on increasing and sustaining the people’s faith in the cause for which they were fighting, and sought to gain support for the government’s security and fundraising activities and distribute ‘sound’ facts on the war and its progress.
The activities of the Department were extensive and various, and when, in 1981, two packets of ‘historical’ photographs of a rural Victorian town were returned to Australia by the New York office of the Australian Information Service, a small but fascinating example of those activities came to light.
The photographs were taken by Jim Fitzpatrick, an official war photographer with the A.I.S., who was sent in 1944 to document the impact of the war on the population of the dairying town of Drouin. The 88 photographs that the Drouin Collection comprises focus on the town's people as a community and also on a more personal level. There are portraits of individuals and family groups, photographs of people working and socialising and images of the town going about its business. We learn from the extended captions still attached to most of the photographs people’s names, ages, occupations, their fathers’ occupations, whether they are married or not, and what their hopes are for the future. The people of Drouin are portrayed with an unusual degree of freedom and candour made possible, perhaps, because Fitzpatrick knew that his portrait of the town was not intended for Australian eyes. For Fitzpatrick’s assignment was part of an extensive publicity campaign to convince our allies, particularly the Americans, that we were ‘shouldering our full share of the burdens of war’.
In 1986, the Australian Information Service was renamed as Promotion Australia and in 1987
1987 in Australia
-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor-General – Sir Ninian Stephen*Prime Minister – Bob Hawke-Premiers and Chief Ministers:*Premier of New South Wales – Barrie Unsworth*Premier of Queensland – Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen , then Mike Ahern...
it became the Australian Overseas Information Service (AOIS). In 1994
1994 in Australia
-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor-General – Bill Hayden*Prime Minister – Paul Keating-Premiers and Chief Ministers:*Premier of New South Wales – John Fahey*Premier of Queensland – Wayne Goss*Premier of South Australia – Dean Brown...
the AOIS became a branch in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
: the International Public Affairs Branch.
As an addendum - some "dodgy" telemarketers will say they are from "Australian Information Services" and as with most telemarketers will hang up when you show no interest.