10 Facts About Maev O'Collins

Ellen Maev O'Collins MBE was an Australian social worker by training, who became Emeritus Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Ellen Maev O'Collins was born in June 1929 into a family of observant Catholics that included her brother, the priest and academic Gerald O'Collins, and Bishop James O'Collins.

Maev O'Collins was sent to boarding schools in Melbourne and then studied at the University of Melbourne, before completing her social work studies at Sydney University.

Maev O'Collins's role was to establish a social work programme that would reflect the needs of local people.

Maev O'Collins established new social work and welfare programmes that prepared graduates to work with complex social issues, often in very remote locations.

Maev O'Collins did this because she had no dependents and because she thought it would make her more comfortable with the PNG people.

Maev O'Collins provided advice to or hosted many students from Oceania who visited Canberra.

Also after returning to Australia, Maev O'Collins began to lecture to the University of the Third Age, Rotary Clubs, and other voluntary organizations, as well as to government departments.

Maev O'Collins provided background briefings to the Australian Federal Police participating in the 2003 Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Maev O'Collins was closely involved in encouraging universities to jointly address intolerance within Australia against Indigenous Australians as well as people from Asia and the Pacific.