Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS), is an Australian association for independent girls' schools, founded in New South Wales, Australia.
| Formation | 1916 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°47′S 151°8′E |
Membership | 32 member schools (since 2020) |
Official language | English |
President | Lisa Maloney (MLC School) (since 2022) |
| Subsidiaries | IGSA Sport (formerly Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association) |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Association of Head Mistresses of New South Wales |
Established in 1916 as The Association of Head Mistresses of New South Wales, the Association decided to trade as Independent Girls' Schools Association (IGSA). The Association in 2022 comprised 32 member schools, enables inter-school aesthetic, cultural and sporting activities between New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory's independent and Catholic girls' schools.
AHIGS also exists for the purpose of encouraging communication and a bond of co-operation and collegiality among independent girls' schools and their "heads", and working towards advancing the cause of the education of girls through policy development on major issues of concern. The association actively represents its members and the interests of their schools at a political level, through lobbying governments and politicians. Through AHIGS competitions, member schools and their students, are encouraged to value good sportsmanship, participation, team spirit and fairness above undue competitiveness and individualism.
Of New South Wales' fifteen female Rhodes Scholars (1904 to 2009), eight have attended an AHIGS School.