Mrs Maureen Corby, of Auckland, CNZM for services to early childhood education
Maureen Corby developed, co-ordinated and taught the National Graduate Diploma in Special Education (Early Intervention) as a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Auckland. This was the first teacher-training programme in the field, championing the needs and rights of all young children to be better understood, educated and included. A focus of the course was enabling teachers to work with families to achieve the best outcomes for children with disabilities. Mrs Corby has worked in early childhood education since 1963. She co-established the Early Intervention Association Aotearoa New Zealand and was its first Chairperson. Recently, she has been a consultant for the Centre for Disability Studies’ University of Sydney and co-established a centre and home visiting Infant Toddler Programme for the Down Syndrome Association Singapore.