Motivation Australia is pleased to announce our CEO, Kylie Mines has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal, for her service to people with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Kylie Mines says what the recognition means to her:
“This honour is shared by the many people I have worked with and alongside, in countries and contexts where resources are scarce, to help create a fairer, more inclusive world. I am the luckiest of people, to have the education, opportunity, colleagues and life lessons that enable me to contribute and have a positive impact through the work that I do. I am proud of what has been achieved, however there is so much more to do. I am hopeful this award provides opportunities to highlight the value of sustained development assistance that reaches those most in need in developing countries, so that everyone can have a fair go.”
Kylie has been working to improve the lives of people with disabilities in developing countries for 30 years. Kylie started her life of service, self-funding to help children with disabilities in orphanages in Lithuania in 1990 and has spent many years living and working in developing countries all over the world.
12 years ago, Kylie founded Motivation Australia, an international development organisation and charity based in Aldinga, South Australia, to offer support to our Pacific neighbours in creating services and opportunities for people with disabilities. Kylie is in demand internationally as a consultant by the World Health Organisation and widely known and respected by disability leaders in the Pacific.
The Australian honours system celebrates the outstanding achievements and contributions of extraordinary Australians in a diverse range of fields and areas of endeavour. It’s about recognising those people in the community whose service and contributions have had the effect of making a significant difference to Australian life or, more broadly, to humanity at large.
To read Kylie’s amazing story, follow this link to Development Policy Centre’s article as part of their Aid Profiles series.