Australian Catholic University has conferred an honorary doctorate on social worker and family therapist Robyn Miller for her decades-long work advocating for the protection of children and vulnerable families.
The MacKillop Family Services CEO, who has spent 40 years transforming the lives of victims of child abuse through clinical work and advocacy, accepted a Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa) from ACU on October 26.
Dr Miller said she was “very humbled and deeply honoured” to be recognised by ACU.
“It came as a total surprise and it is very heartwarming to have social work honoured in this way by the university,” Dr Miller said.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Dr Miller was educated by the Good Samaritan Sisters and initially worked in Catholic family welfare before specialising in child protection support.
Propelled by her Catholic faith and commitment to social justice, Dr Miller has worked at the frontline of the child and welfare sector, supporting victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.
The former Chief Practitioner at the Department of Human Services in Victoria served as an expert consultant during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Doing something to make sure that the sexual abuse of children is prevented is something that I have been strongly committed to, and I have been fortunate to be able to contribute to child safeguarding standards more systemically,” Dr Miller said.
While child protection work is confronting and comes with immense responsibility, Dr Miller said the children and young people she worked with were “a joy”.
“Their suffering is often beyond words, and I have had a passion to make the justice system more attuned to children and understanding of trauma,” she said.
“I love what we can do together to turn things around and have always found great meaning through the relationships and work with young people and their families through times of trouble.”
ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Zlatko Skrbis said Dr Miller’s leadership in the area of child protection was an inspiration.
“Dr Miller’s leadership in advocating for better outcomes for children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability is exactly the type of transformative leadership and impact that ACU seeks to honour through an honorary degree,” Professor Skrbis said.
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Child protection advocate Dr Robyn Miller AM accepts honorary doctorate (ACU)
