Historical information

Joan Kirner was born on the 20th June, 1938, the only child of John Keith Hood and Beryl Edith Cole, whose belief that girls could do anything holds importance in explaining Joan's commitment to improving the status of girls and women
Joan graduated from Melbourne University in 1958, and was sent to Ballarat where she taught at the Ballarat Girls' Technical College. Like all women at the time, her marriage to her husband, Ron, a teacher at the Ballarat Junior Technical School in 1960, meant that she was precluded from permanency in the service, an injustice which fueled much of her activism as an education lobbyist and later, as Minister for Education. The birth of three children, and the move back to Melbourne, marked the beginning of Joan's career as a community activist. Joan Kirner's career in politics has two distinctive phases: twelve years in the Victorian Parliament (1982-1994), the remaining decades in community politics. In the Victorian parliament, Joan held the positions of Minister for Conservation, 1985, Minister for Education, 1988, Deputy Premier, 1989, and Victoria's first woman Premier, 1990 to 1992. She retired from parliament in May, 1994. She was a Co-founder of Emily's List which supports women wishing to enter Parliament.
Joan Kirner introduced the Victorian Certificate of Education. Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia in 2012 and Centenary Medal in 2001.