The Road Autumn 2020

Dr Cathy Vaughan
Judy Brewer
2019 SHINING LIGHT AWARD
INSPIRING ALUMNI
The Shining Light Award is bestowed upon two alumni biennially,
every two years to recognise past students or staff who have
contributed significantly through their chosen field to Damascus
College and our global community and who will be an inspiration to
current and future students.
The inaugural inductees are Dr Cathy Vaughan and Judy Brewer,
Order of Australia.
Dr Cathy Vaughan, Class of 1989, received her Bachelor of
Physiotherapy from La Trobe University in 1993, her Masters of Public
Health from Monash University in 2000 and achieved her PhD from
the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2011.
In addition, Cathy was awarded the Research Studentship from the
London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005, was
the recipient of the John Monash Scholarship in 2005 and won
the Overseas Research Student Award from the Higher Education
Funding Council for England in 2006. Cathy was the winner of
the Vice Chancellor’s Staff Engagement Excellence Award at the
University of Melbourne in 2014, received the Post-Doctoral Award
from the Melbourne Social Equity Institute in 2015 and the Vanguard
Fellowship from the University of Birmingham in 2018.
A short film that shows why Dr Cathy Vaughan is an inspiration can
be viewed via the Damascus College website at https://www.
damascus.vic.edu.au/past-students-shining-light-award
Judy from the Class of 1979 received her award for her Service to the
Global Community.
Judy has been Chair of the Autism CRC since its inception in 2013.
She is a nationally recognised speaker and writer on issues relating
to neurodiverse families. With two adult sons, one of whom is
autistic, Judy has been actively involved in many autism and carer
organisations and is a life member of Autism Spectrum Australia,
convenor of the Autism Future Leaders program and founder of
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia.
In 2013, Judy was a recipient of the Asia Pacific Autism Award and,
in 2016, was named Officer of the Order of Australia for her service
to people with a disability. In 2017, she became Pro-Chancellor of
Charles Sturt University.
Judy has held various appointments on Federal and State
Government Committees, including as Chair of the National Family
Carers Voice, panel member for the 2004 Review of the Disability
Carer Allowance, the 2005 Ministerial Advisory Group on the
reforms to Disability Trusts, the Victorian Government Autism State
Plan Working Party 2007/08 and the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Advisory Committee
for the Positive Partnerships program.
Judy’s motto of ‘Bloom where you are planted’ comes to life when
you look at what she has been involved with to help others in her
community.
Judy has made a difference in so many areas and she has led the
way for so many without a voice. She has indeed shone the light of
Christ.
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