Ballan's 17-year-old Keeley Johnson has been recognised for her work supporting children with autism and intellectual disabilities through a Gold Stevie Award for women in business.
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She was named winner of the award in the Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability category.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honour women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run - worldwide.
Keeley started charity Keeley's Cause in 2017, at age 13, after she experienced her own difficulties with learning at school.
She found using an iPad helped her learning and communication, but she did not have the funding to access one full-time.
Keeley wanted to make sure no other children faced the same barriers, so started raising funds to gift iPads to children with autism and intellectual disabilities around Australia.
The charity has grown since and gained nationwide support.
Keeley's Cause has donated more than 134 iPads to children to support their learning, improve communication and access educational resources.
The charity will be able to donate an extra 116 iPads this year through a massive $70,000 fundraising effort at 10 Officeworks stores through the Round Up to Make a Difference initiative.
Keeley's Cause director and Keeley's mum Sharon Murphy said the Stevie Award was another outstanding achievement for the charity.
She said award recognition helped raise the profile of Keeley's Cause and increased its impact.
Keeley has received recognition through many other awards, including being one of two Australian recipients for the Diana Award in 2020 and she was nominated for Young Australian of the Year.
Keeley also received a City of Ballarat Youth Award and Ballan Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards last year.
Stevie Award winners will be celebrated during a virtual awards ceremony on January 13.
More than 1500 entries were submitted from across the world for consideration in more than 100 categories.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
