We congratulate ASA member and former Councillor Michaela Hart PSM on being awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.
Michaela was recognised for outstanding public service to archival practice and access to records. Over her distinguished career in the Victorian public service, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in archival services and records accessibility, with a particular focus on supporting care leavers and vulnerable Victorians seeking access to historical records.
Through her work across the Department of Health and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Michaela has championed compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to records management and access. Her efforts have helped transform how sensitive records are managed and accessed, enabling individuals to reconnect with their personal histories while ensuring the wellbeing of those working with these records.
The ASA warmly congratulates Michaela on this well-deserved recognition of her significant contribution to the archival profession and public service.
You can read the full citation on the Australian Honours and Awards website.