About
President’s Award
2026 DRAMA AUSTRALIA
PRESIDENT’S AWARD RECIPIENT
Assoc. Professor Madonna Stinson
We are excited to announce Madonna Stinson as the 2026 Drama Australia President’s Award recipient, presented at the Drama Australia National Conference in Perth, February 2026.
Adjunct Associate Professor Madonna Stinson is a leading figure in drama education whose career spans teaching, research, and international advocacy. Beginning as a primary teacher in the 1970s, she extended her expertise through advanced study in London before returning to Australia to integrate drama across primary and secondary education, later becoming Head of Performing Arts. Her commitment to lifelong learning saw her complete a Master of Arts and a PhD focused on drama curriculum.
Madonna’s influence is both national and global. She contributed to the development of Queensland’s P–10 Arts curriculum and played a key role in establishing drama as a secondary subject in Singapore while at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. A respected academic, she has held positions at the University of Melbourne and Griffith University, supervising numerous postgraduate students.
A Life Member of Drama Queensland, Madonna has made outstanding contributions through leadership, extensive publications, and sustained service to Drama Australia especially in her role as Director of Publications.
We thank Madonna for her service and immense contribution to our Drama Australia practice and research community.
2025 DRAMA AUSTRALIA
PRESIDENT’S AWARD RECIPIENT
Julie Orchard
We were delighted to present Julie Orchard with the 2025 Drama Australia President’s Award, presented at the Drama Australia National Conference in Adelaide, May 2025.
Julie Orchard is a highly respected educator and arts advocate whose career spans over four decades of dedicated service to drama education in Australia and internationally. Trained as a primary teacher specialising in Drama at Sturt CAE (now Flinders University), throughout her long career she has integrated drama across diverse educational contexts—from primary classrooms and libraries to international curriculum development in Kenya. She played a formative role in the evolution of the Come Out Festival into today’s DreamBIG Children’s Festival and contributed to arts-rich learning initiatives supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Julie has held key roles across the arts and education sectors, including inaugural Education Officer at Windmill Theatre Company, university tutor, and advisory member of Arts Rich Together. A longstanding leader, she has served as President of Drama South Australia and on Drama Australia’s board as Director of Strategic Partnerships. Awarded Life Membership of Drama South Australia, Julie’s sustained commitment, leadership, and advocacy have profoundly shaped drama education and arts engagement.
We thank Julie Orchard for her service and contribution to our Drama Australia community.
Drama Australia President’s Award Recent recipients
The recipient of a Drama Australia President’s Award demonstrates:
- Significant, long-term service and commitment to Drama Australia (formerly NADIE) and drama/theatre education in Australia.
- Significant service and commitment within a state/territory member association (including service on state/territory association management committees/boards and/or sub-committees).
- A contribution to drama/theatre education at an international level.
Year Recipient
2001 Associate Professor Kate Donelan (Drama Victoria)
2002 Dr Christine Comans (Drama Queensland)
2003 Professor John O’Toole (Drama Queensland)
2004 Dr Jennifer Simons (Drama NSW)
2005 Professor Heather Smigiel (Drama Tasmania)
2006 Professor John Carroll (Drama NSW)
2008 Ms Wendy Danforth (SAADIE -Posthumous)
2009 Associate Professor Angela O’Brien (Drama Victoria)
2011 Mr Robin Pascoe (Drama West)
2012 Professor Brad Haseman (Drama Queensland)
2013 Ms Beth Parsons (Drama Tasmania)
2015 Associate Professor Mary Mooney (Drama NSW)
2016 Mr Graham Cox (Drama South Australia)
2017 Dr Val Johnson (Drama West)
2018 Dr Jo Raphael (Drama Victoria)
2019 Dr Richard Sallis (Drama Victoria)
2020 Professor Judith McLean (Drama Queensland)
2021 Professor Sandra Gattenhof (Drama Queensland)
2023 Colleen Roche (Drama New South Wales)
2025 Julie Orchard (Drama South Australia)
2026 Madonna Stinson (Drama Queensland)