The Carey Medal Committee is delighted to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Carey Medal is former Carey parent, former staff member and beloved member of our community, Robyn Brewin. The award recognises the significant and positive impact her work through the JMB Foundation has made to the lives of many young Australians living with an acquired brain injury.
The Carey Medal recognises people in our community making positive change. It is presented to a member of the Carey community (a past or present student, staff member or parent) in recognition of exceptional and outstanding service to the wider community either within the state, nationwide or internationally.
A mission inspired by personal tragedy
James Macready-Bryan (2004) is the elder of two brothers who attended Carey; his step-brother also attended. While at school, Jameswas a valued member of the First XVIII Football Team and Vice-Captain of the First XI Cricket Team. A friend to many, James was known as being fun, sporty and cheeky. In an instant, one fateful act changed his and his families lives forever.
In October 2006, James was out with friends celebrating his 20th birthday. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for a young man on the precipice of his adult life turned devastating when an unwarranted and cowardly blow left James permanently disabled. The attack caused a catastrophic acquired brain injury (ABI) and left his family to find a way to provide him the ongoing care he needed.
That spineless and destructive act has led to a story of hope, empathy and a determination to make our world a better place for people like James. James’s mum, Robyn Brewin, turned this personal tragedy into a mission for awareness, assistance and advocacy.
Establishing the JMB Foundation
Two of every three cases of ABI are sustained before the age of 25. The number of people in Victoria living with an ABI is around 73,000, over 31,000 of whom need ongoing assistance or supervision. Many severely disabled young people are forced to live in aged care facilities as they have nowhere else to go to get the nursing care they need.
When Robyn learnt of this, it became impossible for her to solely focus on improving conditions for her own son. Driven by grief, love and deep compassion for others in the same situation as herself and James, Robyn set out to make a difference.
With the support of family and friends, Robyn helped establish the JMB Foundation in 2007, with the goal to provide support for disability care and services for young people living with an ABI in Australia. While also caring for her son, Robyn has spent almost 20 years advocating for and raising funds to support families affected by ABI as well as raising awareness of the consequences of senseless violent acts.
The impact of Robyn’s dedication to JMB is evident not only in the outcomes achieved since 2007, but also in the confidence and respect the foundation commands across the sector. Her contribution has been vital in ensuring the foundation remains both principled and effective in the causes it supports.
Robyn also was instrumental in the Step Back Think Campaign against violence and she has led a fight to stop NDIS assistance from being cut, as this would jeopardise the ongoing care for people who need full-time assistance. She is also a Community Visitor for the Office of the Public Advocate visiting disability homes to ensure residents are well cared for.
Robyn’s Carey story
Robyn was a Carey teacher for 36 years, having joined in 1981 after graduating from university. She taught Chemistry and Maths, and became the Head of Mathematics and Information Technology. She was also an important advocate for girls’ sport and was integral in the development of the Carey girls’ cricket program. Robyn coached the girls to undefeated success on several occasions in both the Eastern Suburbs Association competition and the Victorian Schoolgirls’ grand final.
To ensure our whole community could be involved in cricket, she established the Old Carey Women's Cricket team that she captained to a Premiership in 1983. In February 2022, the inaugural Robyn Macready-Bryan Cup match was held between the Old Carey Women’s Team and the Carey First Girls Team as an ongoing recognition of Robyn’s impact on the sport at Carey. Robyn was also named a Companion of the Old Carey Grammarians Association in 2025, recognising her contribution to Old Carey Cricket.
Robyn Brewin is a Carey legend who has been part of shaping our school into the one we know today. Since 2007, Robyn has committed herself wholly to advocating for those living with ABI, improving outcomes for affected young people and their families, and caring for her son James, giving him a fulfilling life of joy, love and kindness. Robyn is a very worthy recipient of the 2025 Carey Medal.
