Multiple Australians recognised for services to early childhood education, inclusion and support in Australia Day Honours 2023

The 2023 Australia Day Honours list includes a broad range of awards to Australians for their service to the education, wellbeing, and the health and safety of children. 

 

While 2023’s Honours List was heavily dominated by COVID-19 related service recognitions, there were four recipients who stood out as having contributed meaningfully to areas connected with the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. 

 

Mrs Jane Boyd – For service to the community through early childhood music education 

 

Jane Boyd is the driving force behind “Bridges to Music”, a program originally introduced to the North Sydney community over forty years ago by eminent early childhood music educator Dr Doreen Bridges.

 

Ms Boyd has run the centre for the last 30 years teaching music and movement classes to young children between 30 months and five years of age. 

 

Ms Boyd has been awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).

 

Mrs Karen Craigie – For service to children

 

Karen Craigie is the Executive Director of Prosper (Project Australia), a multi-award-winning community organisation founded to support disadvantaged children and their families, at home, at school and in the community.

 

Ms Craigie has led Prosper (Project Australia) for nearly thirteen years and has a long history of working with children that have been subjected to disadvantage and abuse including through posts at the Child Abuse Prevention Service (CHAPS) and The Infants’ Home. 

 

Ms Craigie has been awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).

 

Mrs Clare Hopley – For service to children who are hard of hearing, and to education

 

Clare Hopley was the Chief Executive Officer of the Catherine Sullivan Centre (NextSense) which includes an Early Intervention Service that supports parents of hard of hearing children to maximise their child’s ability so that all developmental milestones are met as well as possible.

 

The focus is on explicitly supporting the child to achieve their developmental milestones so that they commence the school years with age appropriate language, social and emotional skills.

 

Mrs Hopley has been awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).

 

Dr Susie O’Neill – For service to children

 

Dr Susie O’Neill is the founder and current CEO of KIDS Foundation, an organisation dedicated to keeping children safe and creating a better life for those living with serious injury and burns trauma.

 

Dr O’Neill began her career as a preschool and primary school teacher, where she specialised in working with children at risk, during which time she met a young boy who was recovering from injury in a ward with three men in their 90’s. At that time in Australia, there were no rehabilitation centres for children and this experience spurred the creation of KIDS. 

 

Dr O’Neill has been awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).

 

To review the full list of Australia Day 2023 Honours list please click here.