King’s Birthday Honours 2024 sees five stand out ECEC connected recipients

The King’s Birthday Honours for 2024 have seen five recipients with strong connections to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector recognised, including an ex Australian Childcare Alliance CEO and also a former President of the Australian Federation of Child Care Associations (now Childcare Associations Australia).

 

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. The outcomes of these nominations are made public on either the King’s Birthday or Australia Day. 

 

The consistently high representation of ECEC professionals, advocates and supporters featuring in the Honours awards highlights the growing 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 Brianna Casey

 

Brianna Casey has been honoured for significant service to early childhood education and care, social welfare, environmental conservation, to the community.

 

Ms Casey is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Foodbank Australia, a leading charity providing food relief to everyday Australians who are currently going without, however prior to commencing in this role Ms Casey was the CEO of the Australian Childcare Alliance New South Wales and was a member of the  Ministerial Advisory Council for Child Care and Early Learning.

 

Ms Casey received a Member AM in the General Division of the order of Australia.

 

Professor Lisa Kervin

 

Professor Lisa Kervin has been honoured for significant service to tertiary education, and to research in early childhood digital literacy.

 

Professor Kervin is currently the Director of Early Start at the University of Wollongong,  a world leading collaborative initiative with the Commonwealth Government and the Abbott foundation to positively impact on the life trajectories of children growing up in regional and remote Australia. 

 

Professor Kervin received a Member AM in the General Division of the order of Australia.

 

Ms Evelyn Callaghan

 

Evelyn Callaghan has been honoured for service to early childhood education.

 

Evelyn Callaghan is an experienced ECEC practitioner with a long history of working in the early childhood space, having been a resident at the Deakin School for Early Learning in Canberra for twenty five years and having served as a director at at least one early learning centre. She was also the former President, Australian Federation of Child Care Associations (now Childcare Associations Australia.)

 

Ms Callaghan received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division.

 

Mr Martin Henry Corkery

 

Martin Corker has been honoured for service to youth through early education, and to the community, and has also been nominated as QLD 2024 Senior Australian of the Year. 

 

Mr Corkery, is an Ipswich based resident, has worked extensively in the community with particular links to ECEC through the founding of Children First Learning Centres which he founded in 1991. 

 

Mr Corkery received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division.

 

Ms Alexandra Greenwell

 

Alexandra Greenwell received the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in education and early childhood development.

 

Ms Greenwell has worked at the Victorian Department of Education since 2007 in a range of different roles including as senior advisor regional performance and as a planning and regional network leader, with both roles having exposure to the ECEC space.