Alumni News

Faces of Australians of the Year alumni
65 years of Australians of the Year

2025 is the 65th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards. A group of former Australians of the Year came to Canberra for the 2025 Awards program and national announcement. They included 2015's Rosie Batty AO, 1967's Keith Potger AO and Athol Guy AO from The Seekers and 2005's Dr Fiona Wood AM. It was amazing to have so many Australians of influence and impact in the one place.

Photo of Heidi Prowse

Grief and resilience

2017 ACT Young Australian of the Year Heidi Prowse has done amazing things for Cystic Fibrosis ACT after her husband was personally affected by the debilitating disease. Now, Heidi has written and published a beautiful, personal book about grief and resilience, called We Should Have Grown Old Together.
Learn more
Photo of Keren Franks and Senator Carol Brown

Keren attends Tasmanian citizenship ceremony

2025 TAS Local Hero Keren Franks was guest speaker at a citizenship ceremony in Tasmania recently. Pictured here with Senator Carol Brown, Keren weaved her personal story into the broader themes of citizenship and being active members of your community.
Read more about Keren

Special guests at Cafe Stepping Stone

Cafe Stepping Stone, the social enterprise founded by 2025 Local Heroes Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, received some special visitors recently. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped by with fiancé Jodie to meet the staff and learn more. We're told Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC has also visited the cafe of late, along with visiting 2025 WA Local Hero Dr Jacinta Vu at her Perth Healing Smiles clinic. She also visited 2025 Australians of the Year for Western Australia, farming pioneers Dianne and Ian Haggerty.

See the Governor General's WA visit to Healing Smiles

TURBANS 4 AUSTRALIA IN LA

2023 Local Hero Amar Singh has brought his incredible Turbans 4 Australia charity to Los Angeles. 

As communities pick up the pieces after devastating wildfires, Amar and his team are selflessly handing out free meals to victims of the disaster, showing the true spirit of Australian generosity.

Learn more about Amar
Photo of Virginia Haussegger AM

"too outspoken"

Throughout her career, 2019 ACT Australian of the Year Virginia Haussegger AM has faced unforgettable moments, from sparking media firestorms with her columns to navigating criticism for being "too outspoken". Hear her thoughts on this podcast...
Listen now
Photo of Professor Georgina Long AO

"too passionate"

Another episode on the Too Much by Future Women podcast features 2024 joint-Australian of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO. She opens up about her life as a scientist who’s been told she’s “too passionate” one too many times.
Listen now

Alumni in Australia Day Honours

Some of our alumni were recognised in the Australia Day Honours 2025 list appointed by the Governor-General of Australia: - 1978 Australian of the Year, the late Galarrwuy Yunupingu AC - 2022 Senior Australian of the Year Valmai Dempsey OAM - 2023 WA Australian of the Year Professor Samar Aoun AM - 2022 QLD Local Hero Saba Abraham OAM - 2022 WA Senior Australian of the Year, Jan Standen OAM - 2022 WA Young Australian of the Year Kendall Whyte OAM - 2022 Australia's Local Hero Shanna Whan AM

Understand the four levels of the awards

365+ Ways to Save the Planet

You may think that living sustainably is too hard and expensive, but that's not the case! In her book 365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time, Banish founder and 2023 NSW Young Australia of the Year Lottie Dalziel offers the best ideas to help you be kind to the earth and your bank account. Lottie offers both the encouragement and the knowledge we all need to do a few little things to make a big difference.

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Witiyana Marika

The year that made Witiyana

One of the founding members of Yothu Yindi, Witiyana Marika is the 2024 NT Local Hero. The Rirratjingu (Yolngu) elder has held a varied career in acting, the music industry, cross-cultural education and as a ceremonial leader. We love these quick chats with special people like Witiyana on ABC's The Year That Made Me.
Listen now
Ash Barty with Dylan Alcott

Ash hosts golf charity day

2020 Young Australian of the Year Ash Barty AO hosted her inaugural Ash Barty Invitational Charity Golf Day last month. It's to raise money for her Foundation which supports young Australians. 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO and 2021 VIC Young Australian of the Year Tayla Harris both participated. “I’m privileged to be in a position where I can continue to do what I love, achieve my dreams of supporting young people and communities through days like this," says Ash.
Learn about Ash Barty AO

In conversation with Richard

Joint 2024 Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer AO has spent his medical career saving the lives of people with melanoma. Then, suddenly, a tumour was discovered in his brain and the diagnosis was terminal. Richard and fellow 2024 Australian of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO decided to try something completely radical.

Listen on ABC Conversations