Coleman, Marie (1933-)

Also known as
Coleman, Marie Yvonne
Coleman, Marie Yvonne (1933-)
Field of activity
Feminist, social activist, educator, researcher, public servant, journalist, Medical Social Worker and Statutory Office Holder
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35046557
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-461460

Biographies

Marie Coleman was the first woman to head a Commonwealth Government statutory agency, and the first woman to hold the powers of Permanent Head under the Public Service Act. She was founding Secretary of the National Foundation for Australian Women, one of the NFAW Board of Directors who worked to establish the Australian Women's Archives Project (AWAP), and remains active in community organisations and public life in her retirement. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in 1989 for contributions to public administration.

Marie Burns was an only child, born in Dubbo, New South Wales (NSW) in March 1933. Her father John Alexander Burns (Alex) was at that time a porter with the Railways Commission of NSW, and the family lived at Nevertire, a small railhead west of Dubbo. Her mother, Kathleen (Nunan) Burns was a former shop assistant with Western Stores, Dubbo ( where she had been apprenticed), and her maternal grandmother, Annie Klintworth (formerly Nunan, nee Manners) lived in Dubbo with her second husband Samuel Klintworth.

The small family moved around remote and rural NSW as Alex pursued promotion. Marie's initial experience with education came through boarding at the small Hunter Valley town of Singleton for six months, to attend pre-primary school; thereafter until a move to Nimmitabel on the Monaro of Southern NSW in 1940 she was educated by correspondence through the NSW Government Education Department's Blackfriars Correspondence School. She was subsequently educated at Dubbo Primary School, Orange Primary School, Orange High School, and Lithgow High School.

She entered the University of Sydney in 1950. She studied Economics and Philosophy for an Arts degree, followed by a Diploma in Social Studies. From 1950-1952 she was a resident of the Women's College, University of Sydney. During her University career she was a member of the Student Representative Council, the Board of Manning Clark House, and editor of the student newspaper Honi Soit- at that time only the second woman to hold that position. She represented the University in district women's cricket and Inter-Varsity women's cricket; she represented the University in Inter-Varsity and international debating.

After leaving University she worked briefly as a society page reporter for the Sydney Daily Telegraph and for the Royal Empire Society as publicist. In January 1954 she traveled to the USA and then the United Kingdom where, after a period teaching for the London County Council, she married James Harry Coleman, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1956. The couple returned to live in Melbourne. She became a scriptwriter for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, in both radio and early television, and then established her own public relations business. Three daughters were born, Carolyn Margaret Coleman, Susan Dinah Coleman, and Elizabeth Burns Coleman.

In 1964 Coleman became medical social worker at the Preston and Northcote Community Hospital and subsequentl, Social worker for the Asthma Foundation of Victoria, before joining the Victorian Council of Social Service as Director. Following the (Federal) election in 1972 of the Whitlam Labor Government she was invited to head the newly created Social Welfare Commission.

In 1976, following the election of the Fraser Liberal-National Coalition Government, she was appointed Director of the Office of Child Care. During this period the Commonwealth commenced support for Aboriginal Child agencies, expanded provision of full day care services, before and after school care and school holidays programs, and created a system of child care in women's refuges, and of youth refuges. In 1982 she became Special Adviser in the Social Welfare Policy Secretariat. This entity was subsequently re-formulated and renamed several times.

In 1983, at the invitation of the Government of South Australia, she carried out a review of Early Childhood Services in that state, which was followed by the re-structure of public administrative arrangements in that field. In 1989 she became a foundation member of the National Foundation for Australian Women. In 1990 she accepted a posting as Senior Visiting Fellow at the Australia New Zealand Studies Centre at Pennsylvania State University in the United States of America. During this period she represented the Australian Government at the meeting of the United Nations final Preparatory Committee for the 1993 Rio "Earth Conference". In 1994 she returned to Australia as Acting Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1994-5 she returned as First Assistant Secretary to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Community Services to review funding for family planning services.

She retired from the Australian Public Service in 1995, recommencing journalism as a regular columnist with the Canberra Times. This continued through to 2003.

She was a consultant and subsequently Director of the Indigenous Social Development Institute, working in Cape York communities in Far North Queensland on adolescent indigenous family development. This continued until 2003.She was appointed as first Chair of the Management Assessment Panel for the Australian Capital Territory, and subsequently in addition as the Alternate Chair of the Care Coordination Panel.

During the celebrations marking the Centenary of Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia, she was awarded the Commonwealth Honors System's Centenary Medal for services to public administration, the Centenary Medal of the Australian Institute of Public Administration for services to public administration, and placed on the Victorian Parliament's Honor Roll of Women, in recognition of services to Victoria and the Nation.

In 2003 she became Chair of the Advisory Board to the Hindmarsh Education Centre, at the Quamby Youth Detention Centre, Australian Capital Territory.

IN 2004 she continues to work as a Committee member for Women's History Month, for the Australian Women's Archives project, and for the Social Policy Committee of the National Foundation for Australian Women. She continues as Chair of the Management Assessment Panel and at the Hindmarsh Education Centre.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Marie Coleman

Selected resources (8)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Web-Savvy and wired into the women's movementSydney Morning Herald 46 : Web-Savvy and wired into the women's movement
    Coleman, Marie
    [2001]
  2. Tireless activist for women's movementAustralian 18 : Tireless activist for women's movement
    Coleman, Marie
    [2001]
  3. The Black Grapevine: Aboriginal Activism and the Stolen Generations
    Briskman, Linda
    [2003]
    Published: The Federation
  4. Who's who of Australian women
    Lofthouse, Andrea
    [1982]
    Published: Methuen Australia
  5. Who's who in Australia 1999
    [1998]
    Published: Information Australia Group Pty Ltd
  6. Private Hands (contact Australian Women's Archive Project): Papers of Marie Coleman (c. 1960 - 2001)
    Currently all held privately. In early discussions with the National Library of Ausralia.
  7. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Records created and maintained by Marie Coleman as Director, Office of Child Care (December 1976 - January 1982)
    This series comprises records created and maintained by Marie Coleman as Director, Office of Child Care for the period December 1976 to April 1979. Correspondence, publications and VHS video titled Woman in Question produced by ABC Television are included in the series.
    M4697
  8. AIATSIS Pictorial Archive: Burns Family Portraits and Early Scenes from Roseby Park and Brewarrina (1915 - 1929)
    14 TIFF photo files
    COLEMAN M1/M2.CD

Resources by Marie Coleman (34)

  1. Families and social services in Australia : a report to the Minister for Social Security / by the Family Services Committee : Chairman : M. Coleman
    Australia. Family Services Committee
    [ Book, Article : 1978 ]
    At 64 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.785)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.785)

  2. Families and social services in Australia : a report to the Minister for Social Security / by the Family Services Committee : Chairman : M. Coleman
    Australia. Family Services Committee
    [ Book, Article : 1978 ]
    At 64 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.199)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.199)

  3. Interview with Marie Coleman, writer and consultant / interviewer, Ann-Mari Jordens
    Coleman, Marie, 1933-
    [ Sound : 2002 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.117)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.117)

  4. Rights of the child : introduction : a paper delivered at the Rights of the Child Conference in Canberra, November 1974 / by Marie Coleman
    Coleman, Marie, 1933-
    [ Book : 1975 ]
    At 22 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.212)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.212)

  5. Care of the aged
    Australia. Social Welfare Commission
    [ Book, Article : 1975 ]
    At 51 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.183)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.183)

  6. Care of the aged
    Australia. Social Welfare Commission
    [ Book, Article : 1975 ]
    At 51 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.113)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.113)

  7. Review of Early Childhood Services in South Australia, November 1983
    Review of Early Childhood Services in South Australia
    [ Book : 1983 ]
    At 14 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.756)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.756)

  8. The Australian Assistance Plan / prepared by the Interim Committee of the Social Welfare Commission
    Australia. Social Welfare Commission. Interim Committee
    [ Article, Book : 1973-1976 ]
    At 24 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.165)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.165)

  9. The children's services program in Australia / [by] Marie Coleman
    Coleman, Marie, 1933-
    [ Book : 1978 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.876)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.876)

  10. Needs of lone parent families in Australia
    Australia. Social Welfare Commission
    [ Book : 1976-1977 ]
    At 42 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.439)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.439)

More...

Resources about Marie Coleman (4)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Marie Coleman, former head of the Federal Office of Child Care, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.918)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.918)

  2. Interview with Marie Coleman, writer and consultant / interviewer, Ann-Mari Jordens
    Coleman, Marie, 1933-
    [ Sound : 2002 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.034)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.034)

  3. National Commission on Social Welfare : terms of reference [etc
    Australia. Dept. of Social Security
    [ Book : 1973 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.629)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.629)

  4. Portrait of Judy Potter and Marie Coleman, 6th August 2005 / Bob Givens
    Givens, Bob
    [ Photograph : 2005 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.74)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.74)

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  1. Coleman, Marie (1933-)
    ... Marie Coleman was the first woman to head a Commonwealth Government statutory agency, and the first ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.089)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.089)

  2. Australia. Office of Child Care
    ... Marie Coleman was Director from 1975. ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

  3. Australia. Social Welfare Commission
    ... Commission, Marie Coleman introduced the Australian Assistance Plan.. ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 143 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.047)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.047)

  2. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 20 matching archived pages
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.015)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.015)

  3. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 69 matching archived pages
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.014)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.014)

  1. COLEMAN, Millicent Lucy (1910-1990)
    Coleman | Millicent Lucy | 1910-1990 | psychologist Coleman | Kathleen Mary | 1915-1996 | dietary consultant
    [ Unpublished : 2007 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.121)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.121)

  2. William Harmon papers, 1939-2000
    Harmon, William, 1938-
    [ Unpublished ]
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.081)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.081)

  3. Sigmund Freud - An Inventory of Spoken Word Audio Recordings in the Vincent Voice Library, Michigan State University
    Freud, Sigmund
    [ Unpublished ]
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.045)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.045)

  1. Historic Antique Row, guide & map, Pine Street, Philadelphia / design, photography & cartography--Marc Coleman Design ; co-design & additional photography--Mary Ann Cardellino
    Marc Coleman Design (Firm)
    [ Map : 2002 ]
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.035)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.035)

  1. Othello / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1622-2010 ]
    Languages: English, German, French, [11 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 169 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.389)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.389)

  2. Future role of government in aged care / Marie Coleman
    Marie Coleman, 1933-
    [ Sound : 1984 ]
    At Healthscope Service
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.242)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.242)

  3. Best friends, worst luck
    Hooper, Mary
    [ Book, Audio book : 1992-2003 ]
    At 24 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

  4. King Lear / William Shakespeare ; edited by G.K. Hunter
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1623-2011 ]
    Languages: English, French, Hebrew, [3 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 135 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.186)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.186)

  1. Australian sea fishes - south of 30s̊ / [by] Neville Coleman
    Coleman, Neville, 1938-
    [ Book : 1980-1983 ]
    At 74 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.564)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.564)

  2. Othello / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1622-2010 ]
    Languages: English, German, French, [11 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 169 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.389)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.389)

  3. The best of handmade : craft, decorating, fashion / editor : Mary Coleman ; craft editor : Alison Snepp
    Coleman, Mary, 1939-
    [ Book : 1994-1997 ]
    At 55 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.316)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.316)

  4. Plays children love : a treasury of contemporary and classic plays for children / edited by Coleman A. Jennings and Aurand Harris ; foreword by Mary Martin ; illustrations by Susan Swan ; original set designs created by Lee Duran
    Harris, Aurand
    [ Book : 1981 ]
    At 15 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.291)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.291)

  1. Othello / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1622-2010 ]
    Languages: English, German, French, [11 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 169 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.526)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.526)

  2. King Lear / William Shakespeare ; edited by G.K. Hunter
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1623-2011 ]
    Languages: English, French, Hebrew, [3 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 135 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

  3. Eating for endurance / Ellen Coleman
    Coleman, Ellen
    Bicycling
    [ Book, Article : 1988-2003 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 17 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.166)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.166)

  4. Interview with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary Coleman
    Coleman, Mary
    [ Article, Sound ]
    View online
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.143)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.143)

  1. MOTHER'S CHASE. NEW ZEALAND TO BRISBANE. SEEKS CUSTODY OF CHILD. BRISBANE, November 18.
    Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Wednesday 19 November 1941 p 4 Article
    ... mother's chase after her aubUrn-halred daughter, Gwands Marie Linton, aged seven, from New Zealand through ... : Joseph A. Coleman (67) ' and his wife, Ella-Coleman (64), to produce Gwanda in court. Mr. W. ... Linton, of Hobart, at Melbourne on January 28, 1933, and the issue was Gwanda. On August 31, 1936, ... 759 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.033)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.033)

  2. DRAMATIC END TO CHASE AFTER YOUNG DAUGHTER BRISBANE, November 18.
    Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) Wednesday 19 November 1941 p 5 Article
    ... auburnhaired haired daughter, Gwanda Marie Linton, aged 7, from New Zealand through Melbourne, Sydney, ... obtained a writ of habeas corpus direct»! to her own parents, Joseph A. Coleman, 674 and his wife. Ella Coleman, 64, to pro- duce Gwanda in court. A bailiff took the writ to Cribb Island, a seaside resort, ... 724 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.033)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.033)

  3. MOTHER'S LONG CHASE TO RECOVER CHILD
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Wednesday 19 November 1941 p 3 Article
    ... Marie Linton, aged 7, from New Zealand, through Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, ended dramatically in ... writ of habeas corpus directed to her own parents, Joseph Augustus Coleman. aged 67, and his wife, Ella Coleman, aged 64, to produce Gwenda in. court. Mr. W. Dendle, acting chief bailiff of the ... 829 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.031)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.031)