Autism Association CEO Recognised in 2025 Australia Day Honours List
It is our great pleasure to announce that on Sunday the 26th of January, Joan McKenna Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Association of WA was recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours List.
Joan received appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to people with disability in leadership and advocacy roles.
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement, celebrating and acknowledging those who work tirelessly to improve local communities and to make Australia a better place.
Joan has dedicated her career to the field of disability and advocating for the full social, educational and economic inclusion of people with disability in our community. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous State and National Bodies tasked with the advancement of people with disability in every aspect of community life.
She was instrumental in building the Autism Association of WA from a relatively small advocacy organisation into one of Australia’s leading specialist providers for Autism dedicated to the full social inclusion and participation of Autistic children and adults.
For the last decade, Joan has also been involved in the Sister-State initiative between Western Australia and East Java, Indonesia, assisting in the development of Autism services in five regional areas of East Java. In 2017, she was awarded the Asia Pacific Autism Award for a lifetime of service to people with Autism and their families.
In receiving the appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia, Joan commented, “I am honoured to receive this award and to be part of the story of so many people with disability and their families who work to create a more inclusive community – one where diversity is welcomed and celebrated, and each person with disability has the opportunity to lead the life they choose.”
A complete list of recipients and biographical notes for each can be found on the Governor General’s website.
Joan joins 73 deserving Western Australians in the 2025 Australia Day Honours List.
