Australian of the Year Awards

Prof Freda Briggs
2000 Award

Humanitarian Professor

Professor Freda Briggs is a Senior Australian who in her roles as educator, author, scholar and ambassador has ceaselessly and passionately worked towards her vision to provide a safer and more caring world for children.

She is the recipient of the Inaugural Australian Humanitarian Award, the ANZAC Fellowship Award, the Jean Denton Memorial Fellowship and the Creswick Fellowship Award for her work with disadvantaged children.

Born in England in the 1930's, her childhood was lost to the years of war, impoverishment and rationing. Her first job as a filing clerk paid $3 for a 48 hr week.

Realising that filing was not her forte, she was lured by the prospect of adventure with the London Metropolitan Police where she became a specialist working in the child protection field. Inspired by this work Freda set her sights higher and became one of the first mature aged students to be accepted at Warwick University where she started teacher training.

Her experiences working with the Police Force in the child protection field underscored the importance of training teachers to identify children who were being abused and neglected. When she became a lecturer, she introduced students to issues relating to child protection.

In 1975 Freda and her family moved to Australia so she could take up the position of Director of Early Childhood studies at the State College of Victoria, a pioneering position and the first course of its kind in Australia. In 1980 Freda was appointed foundation Dean of the De Lissa Institute of Early Childhood and Family Studies, then Associate Professor of Childhood Development at the University of South Australia in 1991 and a Professor in 1994, a position she continues to hold after winning an appeal against mandatory retirement. Freda paved the way for many older Australians to retain their positions after the age of retirement. She recalls that many eyebrows were raised when she was given an employment contract for the post of Professor that would take her up to 71 years of age. This was the first time at the University that a Professor was contracted beyond the age of retirement. A tireless advocate for children, she still travels the country voluntarily to provide advice on issues relating to the educational needs of veterans' children. She also travels extensively throughout Asia and the Pacific at her own expense, consulting to humanitarian aid organisations. She spent nine years as a consultant to Save the Children in a voluntary capacity to ensure that Australian money was wisely spent and services met community needs. Additionally, she advises the New Zealand Police and Ministry of Education and the Government of Fiji on child protection issues.

Since the age of 60, Freda has published more than a book a year and continues to publish extensively in international journals.

Although Freda describes work, research and writing books as her hobbies she still manages to take time out to go bush walking, lift weights at the gym, cook and entertain for friends.

Professor Freda Briggs - wife, mother, grandmother, Senior Australian of the Year - has made, and continues to make a significant contribution to the welfare of our nation and is an outstanding role model to the wider community.