ECEC well represented in King’s Birthday Honours, a Goodstart board member and ex Play Australia exec included

The King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List has seen the early childhood education and care (ECEC) well represented with four awards being given, including current non-executive Goodstart Early Learning board member and ex ACECQA board member June McLoughlin. 

Other recipients include ex Play Australia Executive Director, Barbara Champion, Community Early Learning Australia Chair Wendy Lingrem and Julie Bertram, Aboriginal Children & Families Program Facilitator.

The Honours List is one of two annual award events in which anyone can nominate a member of the community to be considered for recognition through the Order with the King’s Birthday and Australia Day being the days when the recipients are made public. 

The consistently high representation of ECEC professionals, advocates and supporters featuring in the Honours awards highlights the sustained recognition of the importance of the work being carried out by ECEC professionals across Australia.

A short summary of this year’s awardees are noted below:

Ms June McLoughlin 

June McLoughlin is currently, amongst other roles, the Executive Director Services at Our Place,  a place-based approach to supporting the education, health and development of all children and families in disadvantaged communities by utilising the universal platform of a school.

In addition, Ms McLoughlin has significant policy and advocacy experience having been a board member at the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) from 2011 to 2014 during which time she sat on a number of policy and research committees and also having been Vice President and a Board member at peak body Early Learning Association Australia from 2012-2015.

Ms McLoughlin received a Member AM in the General Division of the order of Australia for significant service to child advocacy and early learning.

Barbara Champion

Barbara Champion is the Executive Director at Play Australia the peak national advocacy organisation that supports outdoor play by way of inspiration, advice, access to information and professional services, a role she has held since 1998. 

In addition, Ms Champion was recognised for significant service to local Government having been the Chief Commissioner, City of Maribyrnong (1994-1997), Commissioner, City of Yarra (1994) and Councillor, Melbourne City Council (1991-1993).

Ms Champion received a Member AM in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to children through play advocacy, to local government, and to education.

Ms Wendy Lindgren

Wendy Lindgren is the Chairperson of leading ECEC peak body Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) a role she has held since 2015 having been a director since 2007 and first becoming a member in 1991. 

Ms Lindgren has extensive teaching experience and was heavily involved in delivering Child Studies qualifications at TAFE NSW as a teacher and head teacher before eventually becoming the head of the Child Services Division in 1987. 

Wendy Lindgren received (OAM) Order of Australia Gen division for service to the community through several organisations.

Mrs Julie Anne Bertram

Julei Anne Bertram is an experienced facilitator skilled in Aboriginal relations, resource development, working with children, teaching, and community development with over forty years of teaching and community service experience. 

Currently, Mrs Bertram is coordinating in a volunteer capacity Kidsplay, a community focussed playgroup enabling parents and children to connect with both the Uniting Church and wider local community. 

Prior to founding Kidsplay, Mrs Bertram spent thirteen years at Bankstown Community Resource Group facilitating the Deadly Futures Project for Aboriginal children aged 0-12 and their families and Guring Gang Playgroup, a culturally based pre-school for Aboriginal children birth – five years of age and their families. 

Mrs Bertram received the Medal (OAM) Order of Australia Gen division for service to early childhood education.