2021 Australian of the Year Finalists announced

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2021 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS FINALISTS

WHO’S IN THE RUNNING FOR NATIONAL AWARDS?

Awards to be announced 25 January 2021

australianoftheyear.org.au

 

Health leaders, bushfire heroes, pandemic helpers, scientists, environmental guardians, human rights advocates and Indigenous leaders are among the inspiring Australians now in the running for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards to be announced on the evening of 25 January 2021.

 

Public nominations for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards closed in July 2020. State and territory nominees were selected from these public submissions and recipients then announced during October and November 2020. These state and territory award recipients are now the national finalists.

 

There are 33 finalists across four award categories:

  • 2021 Australian of the Year
  • 2021 Senior Australian of the Year
  • 2021 Young Australian of the Year
  • 2021 Australia’s Local Hero

 

National Australia Day Council CEO, Ms Karlie Brand, said the national finalists reflected the many faces of Australian society and the many ways in which many Australians contributed in times of crisis.

 

“The past year has been particularly challenging and many of the finalists have shown incredible leadership or stepped up to help in extraordinary ways,” said Ms Brand.

 

“At the same time, ongoing social issues and challenges continue. Many of the award finalists are champions of causes and issues which require long-term dedication and passion.

 

“These are the people who make our nation and our communities great – real people doing important work and showing leadership when it’s needed most.”

 

The national finalists for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards are:

 

2021 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

ACT     Professor Brendan Murphy - Former Chief Medical Officer to the Federal Government

NSW   Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM - Ex-NSW Fire Commissioner, leader of Resilience NSW

NT       Dr Wendy Page - Global expert in Aboriginal health

QLD     Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM - Advocate for doctors with disabilities

SA       Tanya Hosch - Leader, changemaker and visionary

TAS     Grace Tame - Advocate for survivors of sexual assault

VIC      Donna Stolzenberg - Founder and CEO, the National Homeless Collective

WA      Professor Helen Milroy - Australia’s first Indigenous doctor

 

2021 SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

ACT     Patricia Anderson AO - Writer and advocate for the health of Australia’s First Peoples

NSW   Isabel Reid - Elder and advocate for the Stolen Generation

NT       Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM - Aboriginal activist, educator and artist

QLD     Aunty McRose Elu - Advocate for Torres Strait communities and climate change

SA       Professor Richard Bruggemann - Disability advocate

TAS     Brian Williams - Scout leader and mentor

VIC      Bich Cam Nguyen - Founder, CEO, Honorary Secretary, Australian Vietnamese Women’s Assoc

WA      Dr Richard Walley OAM - Champion of Aboriginal culture

 

2021 YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

ACT     Tara McClelland - Advocate for the rights of young people

NSW   Nathan Parker - Pilot, Invictus Games gold medallist

NT       Stuart McGrath - Aboriginal health practitioner

QLD     Daniel & William Clarke - Conservationists for the endangered orangutan

SA       Isobel Marshall - Social entrepreneur

TAS     Toby Thorpe - Advocate for youth empowerment and climate action

VIC      Tayla Harris - Footballer, boxer, respectful relationships ambassador

WA      Grace Forrest - Founder and director of Walk Free

 

2021 AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO  

ACT     Timothy Miller - Founder of Lids4Kids

NSW    Rosemary Kariuki - Advocate for migrant and refugee women

NT       Erica Gibson - Police officer and safer communities advocate

QLD     Natasha Johnston - Founder and Director of Drought Angels

SA       Russell Ebert OAM - Respectful relationships advocate

TAS     Edna Pennicott OAM - Founder of Kingborough Helping Hands

VIC      Dr Kirby White - Founder of Gowns for Doctors

WA      Rebecca Prince-Ruiz - Founder of Plastic Free July

  

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit australianoftheyear.org.au.

 

ENDS.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne on 0414 673 762 / nicole@mediaopps.com.au

PHOTOS:  Of national finalists can be downloaded from here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yxmm0ay8ru4gkuk/AADGs2Nc1qzLHoNPmZbZioDIa?dl=0

Please credit Salty Dingo for photos. 

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate/frequently-asked-questions/