Janet McCalman

Biography

Professor Janet McCalman is a professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Director of the Johnstone-Need Unit for the History of Medicine in the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. She is interested in the history of health and illness, social ecology, the biological standard of living and the relationships between behaviour, social values and health. Prizes and Awards include the 1985 Ernest Scott Prize from the University of Melbourne for best book in Australasian History 1984-85, 1992 The Max Crawford Medal from the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Professor McCalman’s publications are well recognised. ‘Struggletown’ was short-listed for The Age Book of the Year (1984), the Victorian Premier’s Award for Australian Studies (1985) and the Fellowship of Australian Writers’ Local History Award (1985). ‘Journeyings: The Biography of a Middle-Class Generation 1920-1990’ was awarded the Age Non-fiction Book of the Year (1993), short-listed for South Australian Premier’s Award (1994), and short-listed for Victorian Premier’s Award for Australian Studies (1994). ‘Sex and Suffering’ was the Victorian Community and Local History Award for best publication (1999), the winner of the NSW Premier’s History Awards in Community and Regional History (1999), and short-listed for The Age Non-fiction Book of the Year Award (1999). She has also been short-listed for the Walkley Awards for Journalism Editorial and Opinion category (1997) and received the 1999 Media Award from the College of Educational Administration (Victoria) for outstanding contribution to public discourse on education. In 2018, Professor McCalman was awarded Companion (AC) in the General Division of The Order of Australia for eminent service to education as a leading scholar in social history, contributor to multi-disciplinary curriculum development, and for her role in broadly promoting history to the wider community.