ECU School of Education alumni take out top honours

Edith Cowan University (ECU) alumni topped the State's honour role at the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Awards.

This year marked the 51^st anniversary of the Awards, a special event that acknowledges and celebrates extraordinary community members who have made outstanding contributions to the State of WA.

ECU is proud to extend heartfelt congratulations to three School of Education alumni who are making exceptional contributions to the field of arts and culture, youth, and community.

Nicolette Beard.

Nicolette Beard

Nicolette Beard graduated from ECU with a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) in 2018. She was announced as this year's winner of the Youth Award, which celebrates excellence in leadership, mentoring or artistic pursuits at a state, national or international level amongst 18- to 30-year-olds.

Nicolette is the Co-Founder of We Are Womxn, an evidence based, trauma informed organisation providing young people with education on consent, healthy relationships, and mental wellbeing.

We Are Womxn believes in fostering positive change by equipping people with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of relationships and sexual health. Their programs are carefully curated to provide a safe and inclusive space for all people to engage in open discussions and address the specific needs and challenges they encounter.

Nicolette said that receiving the award was a significant milestone for both herself and the organisation.

"It was a great opportunity to highlight the impactful work that We Are Womxn is engaged in and raise awareness about our efforts in gender-based violence prevention," she said.

"The recognition our organisation received validates the importance and necessity of our work, and I am incredibly grateful for this acknowledgment.

"I aspire for our organisation to continue expanding, evolving, and diversifying into various industries. Such education is crucial for individuals of all genders and ages, and achieving a national, and perhaps even international, reach with our work would be a huge objective for us."

Mitch Messer.

Mitchell Messer

Mitch Messer graduated from ECU with a Diploma in Teaching (Primary) in 1982. He was awarded the Community Award at the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Awards.

A stalwart advocate for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) community for over 40 years, Mitch draws upon personal experience after losing two brothers to the condition. His advocacy journey began as a teenager, recognising the disconnect between researchers and the CF community, prompting his mission to improve research processes with a focus on community needs.

As President of Cystic Fibrosis WA, Mitch initiated impactful initiatives based on community feedback, leading to the establishment of home support services that are still in operation today.

In his current role as a Community Involvement Coordinator at Telethon Kids Institute, he bridges the gap between researchers and the community, mentoring and facilitating collaboration to translate research into meaningful improvements.

Mitch said that he feels humble and excited to have won the Community Award.

"I believe the Award is recognition for not only my work but those I have worked with," he said.

"I also believe that this is recognition for the communities that I have advocated for and used my voice to promote community and consumer inclusion.

"I hope to be able to continue to advocate for those who do not have a voice and to ensure that services and systems take into account the users they are designed to serve rather than have the providers as the focus, as many are today."

Caroline Wood AM. Image sourced via The West.

Caroline Wood AM

Caroline Wood AM graduated from ECU with a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) in 1984. She was awarded this year's Arts & Culture Award, which celebrates excellence in the development, promotion and profiling of arts and culture disciplines in the State.

Caroline is the co-founder and CEO of the Centre for Stories. The Centre has pioneered a safe and inclusive space for underrepresented and marginalised communities to share their narratives through written and oral story telling.

Recognising the exclusion of diverse writers from the competitive publishing world, Caroline established the Centre to provide inclusive support and mentoring opportunities for emerging writers from minority backgrounds.

Beyond the Centre for Stories, Caroline has contributed significantly to the WA arts scene through various projects, including co-founding Margaret River Press and Australian Short Story Festival. A current board member of Creative Australia, she has also served on the boards of Amnesty International and the Small Publishers Network, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to diversity and cultural representation in the community.

Find out more about the 2024 Western Australian of the Year winners.