German Association for Australian Studies

The Gesellschaft für Australienstudien e.V. (GASt), known in English as the German Association for Australian Studies, is a politically independent, interdisciplinary scholarly association founded in 1989 and based in Berlin. Its stated purpose is to further scholarship concerned with Australia in the broadest sense and to promote Australian studies in both teaching and research across German-speaking countries. It also works to intensify academic, scientific and cultural relations between German-speaking countries and Australia and to overcome cultural barriers between these areas. The association is a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) and a non-profit organisation. Its members are chiefly engaged in teaching, research, study or public activities relevant to Australia, or are those whose interest supports such work. As of July 2014 it had about 100 members from a wide range of disciplines, employed at universities or other research institutions, studying, or engaged in public advocacy for Australian research. The Australian embassies in Berlin and Vienna are also members. Members' research fields span ethnology, geography, history, art, literary and linguistic studies, media studies, and law and social sciences. Annual membership fees and donations largely fund the association. The GASt pursues its goals through three publication formats, biennial conferences, workshops, teacher training, and awards for outstanding theses and dissertations related to Australia. Its flagship publication is the peer-reviewed Zeitschrift für Australienstudien (ZfA) / Australian Studies Journal (ISSN 1864-3957), published annually, which grew out of the association's newsletter in 2006. The book series KOALAS (Konzepte, Orientierungen, Abhandlungen, Lektüren, Australienstudien) documents interdisciplinary perspectives on Australia in German and English, with 15 volumes to date. A semi-annual electronic newsletter, conceived by Adi Wimmer and Henriette von Holleuffer (2009–2021) and edited since summer 2021 by Stefanie Affeldt and Friederike Schmidt, provides a multimedia information and discussion forum for a broad audience. The association is governed by a four-member board elected for three-year terms. In 2023 the board consisted of Carsten Wergin (chair, Heidelberg), Leonie John (first deputy chair, Cologne), Katrin Althans (second deputy chair and treasurer, Düsseldorf), and Stefanie Affeldt (public relations, Hamburg). A scientific advisory board reviews the association's scholarly publications and award submissions. The GASt organises biennial interdisciplinary conferences, typically lasting three days and open to members and non-members, hosted at members' home institutes; about ten peer-reviewed contributions are subsequently published in a KOALAS volume. The association maintains a public presence on Facebook, Twitter, Mastodon, BlueSky, and YouTube.

The Gesellschaft für Australienstudien e.V. (GASt) was founded in 1989 as a politically independent, interdisciplinary scholarly association for the German-speaking world. Its seat is in Berlin. From its inception, the association has pursued two intertwined goals: to advance Australian studies in research and teaching in German-speaking countries, and to develop scientific and cultural relations between German-speaking countries and Australia. It has gained recognition beyond academic circles. The association's origins are linked to earlier networking among scholars interested in Australia. Its newsletter traces back to 1987, when a newsletter of the association was established, itself replacing the newsletter of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Australien. This newsletter later evolved into the peer-reviewed Zeitschrift für Australienstudien (ZfA) / Australian Studies Journal in 2006. The journal publishes articles, reviews and essays by members and non-members alike and carries ISSN 1864-3957. Biennial interdisciplinary conferences have been a core activity since 1988, when members began organising them at their home institutes. The first conference, "Australienstudien in Deutschland," was held in Blaubeuren in 1988, followed by meetings in Oberjoch (1990), Marienheide-Roth (1992), Blaubeuren (1994), Tübingen (1996), Moosegg, Switzerland (1998), and others. These conferences typically last three days and are open to members and non-members; about ten peer-reviewed contributions are subsequently published in a volume of the KOALAS series. The KOALAS book series (Konzepte, Orientierungen, Abhandlungen, Lektüren, Australienstudien) documents interdisciplinary perspectives on Australia in German and English, addressing the tension between popular clichés and scholarly insight. It currently comprises 15 volumes: two monographs and twelve interdisciplinary edited collections, usually conceived as conference volumes. Articles undergo peer review by series and volume editors and by the scientific advisory board. Series editors include Eva Bischoff (Trier), Kylie Crane (Rostock), Barbara Schmidt-Haberkamp (Bonn), Gerhard Stilz (Tübingen), and, as managing editor, Boris Braun (Cologne). An electronic newsletter was conceived by Adi Wimmer and Henriette von Holleuffer (2009–2021) as a contemporary medium for broad, interdisciplinary communication about Australia. Published semi-annually, it has been edited since summer 2021 by Stefanie Affeldt and Friederike Schmidt. It serves as a multimedia information and discussion forum providing current knowledge about Australia to a broad audience. Membership has grown to include scholars from ethnology, geography, history, art, literary and linguistic studies, media studies, and law and social sciences. As of July 2014, the association had about 100 members, including the Australian embassies in Berlin and Vienna. Annual fees and donations largely fund the non-profit association. Membership fees are €40 for individual members (€20 for students), €50 for family membership (€25 for students), and €103 for institutional members; fees may be offset against tax and include the association's publication KOALAS. The association is governed by a four-member board elected for three-year terms. Past chairs include Horst Prießnitz (1989–1993), Gerhard Stilz (1993–1996), Manfred Brusten (1996–1999), Norbert Platz (1999–2002), Rudolf Bader (2002–2005), Gerd Dose (2005–2008), Adi Wimmer (2008–2012), Renate Brosch (2012–2013), Therese-Marie Meyer (2013–2014), Amelie Bernzen (2014–2016), and Beate Neumeier (2016–2023). In 2023 the board comprised Carsten Wergin (chair), Leonie John (first deputy chair), Katrin Althans (second deputy chair and treasurer), and Stefanie Affeldt (public relations). A scientific advisory board, including Eva Bischoff (history, Trier), Boris Braun (geography, Cologne), Liesel Hermes (English studies, Karlsruhe, deceased), and Barbara Schmidt-Haberkamp (English studies, Bonn), advises on publications and awards. Beyond publications and conferences, the GASt organises workshops, teacher training, and awards for outstanding final theses and dissertations related to Australia. It maintains a public presence on Facebook, Twitter, Mastodon, BlueSky, and YouTube.

• 2023

  Board consisted of Carsten Wergin (chair), Leonie John, Katrin Althans, and Stefanie Affeldt.

• 2021

  Stefanie Affeldt and Friederike Schmidt became editors of the electronic newsletter.

• 2014

  Association had about 100 members from diverse disciplines; Australian embassies in Berlin and Vienna were members.

• 2009

  Electronic newsletter conceived by Adi Wimmer and Henriette von Holleuffer.

• 2006

  Zeitschrift für Australienstudien (ZfA) / Australian Studies Journal established from the association's newsletter.

• 1998

  Conference "Australien auf dem Weg ins 21. Jahrhundert" held in Moosegg, Switzerland.

• 1996

  Conference "Gold – Geld – Geltung: Ressourcen und Ziele der australischen Gesellschaft" held in Tübingen.

• 1994

  Conference "Australienreisen – Von der Expedition zum Tourismus" held in Blaubeuren.

• 1992

  Conference "Australien zwischen Europa und Asien" held in Marienheide-Roth.

• 1990

  Conference "Mensch und Natur in Australien" held in Oberjoch.

• 1989

  Association founded as a politically independent, interdisciplinary scholarly association.

• 1988

  First biennial interdisciplinary conference held in Blaubeuren, Germany.

• 1987

  Newsletter of the association established, replacing the newsletter of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Australien.

A politically independent, interdisciplinary non-profit scholarly association dedicated to advancing Australian studies in German-speaking countries.

• Zeitschrift für Australienstudien (ZfA) / Australian Studies Journal

  Peer-reviewed annual academic journal (ISSN 1864-3957) publishing articles, reviews and essays by members and non-members.

• KOALAS book series

  Book series (Konzepte, Orientierungen, Abhandlungen, Lektüren, Australienstudien) with 15 volumes to date, documenting interdisciplinary perspectives on Australia in German and English.

• Electronic newsletter (e-NL)

  Semi-annual multimedia information and discussion forum providing current knowledge about Australia to a broad audience.

1. 1German Association for Australian Studies – Gesellschaft für Australienstudienaustralienstudien.org
2. 2About Us – German Association for Australian Studiesaustralienstudien.org
3. 3Gesellschaft für Australienstudienwikidata.org
4. 4Gesellschaft für Australienstudiende.wikipedia.org