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The Women’s Information Switchboard (WIS) was established in South Australia in 1978. It was renamed the Women’s Information Service in 1996. The service provides accurate, unbiased information and acts as a referral centre for government and non-government service providers. The Women’s Information Service frequently addresses enquiries for information about education, employment, emotional wellbeing, housing, finance, family and relationship issues, violence or safety issues, legal matters and health.

The Women's Information Service operates under three fundamental principles:
 * that every woman's request for information be treated seriously,
 * that information be available to any woman on any subject,
 * that women be given the support necessary to utilise that information most effectively.

History
Women’s Information Switchboard (1978-1996)

The Women’s Information Switchboard was the first service of its kind to be established in Australia and became the model for other information services for women around the country. The need for an information service specifically for women was identified following the appointment of Deborah McCulloch as South Australia's first Women's Advisor to the Premier in 1976. While the Advisor had been appointed to provide advice and support to government agencies on women's issues, she recieved daily phone calls from women seeking information and advice about various aspects of their lives. This demand for information resulted in the appointment of an Information Officer, Andi Sebastian.

In April 1977, Ms Sebastian proposed that a local information and advocacy service modelled after San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury Switchboard be established and in 1978 a formal submission was made by the Women's Advisory Unit (comprised of Ms McCulloch and Ms Sebastian) to the Library Services Planning Committee for the establishment of an information service for women. As a result the Women's Information Switchboard was established, opening in Adelaide in July 1978 as a twelve month pilot project under the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (through the Women’s Advisory Unit) and the Department of Local Government (through the Libraries Board). At the end of twelve months staff were employed temporarily by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and in October 1979 positions were made permanent.

In May 1978 the WIS Support Group was formed. The Support Group consists of representatives from over 100 women’s groups and is chaired by the convenor of the South Australian branch of the Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL). The aims of the Support Group are:
 * To ensure that the information supplied by WIS is politically nuetral and unbiased
 * To ensure that WIS has the support of all sections of the South Australian women's community irrespective of political, cultural or sectarian affiliation..

In 1995 a review of WIS and its services was conducted and it was recommended that WIS begin using and focusing on women’s access to new information technologies. To reflect this change in focus a change in name from the Women's Information Switchboard to the Women's Information Service was also reccommended.

Women’s Information Service (1996-present)

The Women’s Information Switchboard became the Women’s Information Service on 25 February 1996. Also in 1996, the WIS website was established and computers were purchased for the Women’s Internet Access Program.

WIS moved from its original premises on the ground floor of the Institute Building of the State Library of South Australia in September 1997 to a shopfront location in Station Arcade, Adelaide. Eleven years later, in October 2008 WIS moved to its current location in Grenfell Street, Adelaide (on the ground floor of Chesser House). WIS current services include, information and referral, Family Court Support, Tax help (between July and October), free internet access in the WIS shopfront and a monthly outreach service where staff from the offices of the South Australian and Commonwealth Ombudsman are available to answer enquiries at WIS.

WIS Volunteers
WIS has from its inception relied on the contributions of its volunteer staff. WIS volunteers have come from a variety of backgrounds and the diversity of their life experiences, knowledge and skills have enabled WIS to respond to the changing information needs of the women of South Australia over time. . WIS volunteers undertake a training program and are supported by the WIS Volunteer Coordinator as well as all other paid staff members.