NOTE: This is an archive of our 2002 website. For current information, please see our updated site for 2003.

Coleman, Marie Yvonne (1933 - )
Public Service Medal, PSM, BA., DipSocStudies

Born: Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia

Journalist, Public Servant, Educator, Social worker, Scriptwriter and Consultant

Marie Coleman was the first woman to head a Commonwealth statutory authority, and was the first woman to hold, under legislation, powers of a permanent head of department, 1972. She has been influential in the development of Australian social welfare primarily in areas of child care services, aged care services and health insurance. Marie officially retired from the public service in 1995 but continues her Canberra Times column and to work as a consultant to advance the status of women, their reproductive health and indigenous social development in remote areas.

Chair
National Social Welfare Commission (1972 - 1975) - Following the election of Whitlam Labor Government in 1972 Marie Coleman was invited by Minister William Hayden and PM Edward Gough Whitlam to Chair the newly created National Social Welfare Commission. [1972 - 1975]

Director
Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (c1980 -) - Marie Coleman assisted in development of plans for Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia, and was appointed Director, during her tenure at the Office of Child Care. Manning House Women's Union, Sydney University [1953 - 1954] Victorian Council of Social Service [1969 - ]

Office of Child Care, Commonwealth Department of Social Security - Marie Coleman was invited by Minister Senator Margaret Guilfoyle and PM Malcolm Fraser to accept appointment as Director of the Office of Child Care in the Department of Social Security. [1975 - 1982]

Australian Institute of Family Studies - Marie Coleman was Acting Director pending the arrival from the UK of the Director-elect. She oversaw re-structuring at AIFS and assisted in the organisation of national conferences for International Year of the Family. [1994 - 1995]

Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, Australian Reproductive Health Foundation (1995 -) - Marie Coleman was founding Secretary and Director. [1995 - ]

National Foundation for Australian Women (1989 -) - Marie Coleman was re-appointed as Director and Secretary of NFAW. Assisted in the formalisation of the NFAW Preferred Donor arrangements, edited newsletter, and assisted with development of Australian Women's Archives Project. [1997 - ]

Founding member
Family Planning Association - Marie Coleman was a committee member of the planning group which established FPA Vic. [c1969 - c1970]

National Foundation for Australian Women (1989 -) [1989 - ]

Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, Australian Reproductive Health Foundation (1995 -) [1995 - ]

President
Mothercraft Society [1995 - ]

Guilfoyle, Dame Margaret

Family Support Program (c1975 - c1982) - Marie Coleman introduced the Family Support Program when she was Director of the Office of Child Care [c1975 - c1982]

National Women's Conference - Marie Coleman assisted with the organisation of the first National Women's Conference in Canberra in 1990 for the NFAW. [1990 - ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published by National Foundation for Australian Women on Australian Women's Archives Project Web Site, Comments, questions, corrections and additions: awap@womenaustralia.info
Acknowledgements
Updated: 13 February 2002
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0042b.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------