REED are very proud to congratulate Jill Cameron, who was recognized for her service to early childhood education with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day, 2026. Jill’s contributions were crucial to the founding of REED and to its continued success. This exceptional achievement honours a lifetime of service and dedication to children and to early childhood education.
On receipt of the award, Jill says, “It’s a privilege to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia Award. While it’s a personal award, I share it with a wide range of people including the dedicated Early Childhood Educators I’ve encountered in diverse circumstances and locations over many years.
I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible and inspiring people – all have shared the goal of making a difference to children’s lives and the value of respect for people regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, disability, social or economic circumstances.
It takes a village to raise a child – and it takes a team of committed people who share a vision to achieve great outcomes.
In all of my roles over more than 50 years in education systems and not for profit organisations, as a teacher, school psychologist, lecturer, public servant, consultant and Save the Children Board member for 13 years, I’ve seen the positive impact of education, and in particular, early childhood education in locations far and wide – from the newly developing community of Karawara in the 1980s, to metropolitan, regional and rural Western Australia, across the length and breadth of Australia, to developing countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh, and refugee friendly Jordan.
I’ve worked in all levels of education with a focus on both individual children and the systems delivering services. The early childhood education and care sector values and recognises the importance of the early years in a child’s development, and services facilitate higher levels of workforce participation by parents and carers. Importantly, provision of early childhood education and care services in regional areas also contributes to the viability of other services and businesses in communities.
Over the last decade, leading a small consultancy team, I’ve had a major role in the creation of REED, a unique and innovative not for profit cluster model of 26 services located exclusively in regional Western Australia.
The REED model was informed by extensive research and consultation and subjected to rigorous assessment. Proudly not for profit, REED has gone to places which are of no interest to for-profit childcare providers.
Much has been written about ‘child care deserts’ in Australia. REED has addressed this challenge – resulting in towns keeping their GP, their police officer, their teachers while supporting children’s development and opportunities for parents to participate in employment and study.
I’m in awe of the achievements of REED’s Board, executive team and educators. I’ve maintained my connection with REED, in the background, in a voluntary capacity.
In early January 2026 at the annual REED Awards Dinner it was an honor to present the Jill Cameron Educator of the Year Award to Tiana Bornatici from REED Nannup. More than 100 Educators, some fairly new to Australia and rural life, were participating in two days of professional development. It was a joy to see such a culturally diverse group enjoying an evening of recognition and celebration – celebration of their individual and collective contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of children and families in the 26 rural communities they call home.
There remains much to be done. I look forward to the time when the challenge of integration of early childhood education and care with the wider education system is achieved and the rebalancing of not for profit and for-profit service provision becomes a reality.”
The team at REED are grateful to Jill for her past and continued support, and would like to congratulate her on this very well-deserved recognition.
