Australian of the Year

2020 Australian of the Year Dr James Muecke AM Eye surgeon and blindness prevention pioneer Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor John Newnham AM Leader of modern obstetrics Read More Young Australian of the Year Ash Barty Professional tennis player Read More Local Hero Bernie Shakeshaft Founder of BackTrack Youth Works Program Read More State and Territory Recipients 2019 Australian of the Year Dr Richard Harris SC OAM and Dr Craig Challen SC OAM Dr Richard Harris SC OAM from South Australia... Read More Senior Australian of the Year Dr Suzanne Packer AM Since starting her career as a paediatrician... Read More Young Australian of the Year Mr Danzal Baker Working across rap, dance, acting and graffiti,... Read More Local Hero Kate and Tick Everett Following the tragic death of their teenage... Read More State and Territory Recipients 2018 Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons Professor in quantum physics Read More Senior Australian of the Year Dr Graham Farquhar AO Prize winning biophysicist Read More Young Australian of the Year Samantha Kerr Sportsperson Read More Local Hero Eddie Woo Mathematics teacher Read More State and Territory Recipients 2017 Australian of the Year Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim Biomedical scientist treating spinal cord... Read More Senior Australian of the Year Sister Anne Gardiner AM Community champion, connecting cultures and... Read More Young Australian of the Year Paul Vasileff Acclaimed fashion designer and businessman Read More Local Hero Vicki Jellie Community fundraising champion, bringing... Read More State and Territory Recipients 2016 Australian of the Year David Morrison AO Equality advocate Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor Gordian Fulde Doctor Read More Young Australian of the Year Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett Social entrepreneurs Read More Local Hero Dr Catherine Keenan Youth educator Read More State and Territory Recipients 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty Family violence campaigner Read More Senior Australian of the Year Jackie French Author Read More Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray Deaf advocate Read More Local Hero Juliette Wright Social entrepreneur Read More State and Territory Recipients 2014 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes AFL player and community leader Read More Senior Australian of the Year Fred Chaney AO Reconciliation advocate Read More Young Australian of the Year Jacqueline Freney OAM Paralympic champion Read More Local Hero Tim Conolan Children’s Charity Founder Read More State and Territory Recipients 2013 Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose AO OBE Media icon Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ian Maddocks AM Palliative care specialist Read More Young Australian of the Year Akram Azimi Mentor Read More Local Hero Shane Phillips Indigenous leader Read More State and Territory Recipients 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush Oscar-winning actor Read More Senior Australian of the Year Laurie Baymarrwangga Community Leader Read More Young Australian of the Year Marita Cheng Engineering visionary Read More Local Hero Lynne Sawyers Foster mother Read More State and Territory Recipients 2011 Australian of the Year Simon McKeon Social Entrepreneur Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ron McCallum AO Equal rights campaigner Read More Young Australian of the Year Jessica Watson Sailor Read More Local Hero Donald Ritchie OAM Suicide prevention advocate Read More State and Territory Recipients 2010 Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry Mental health expert Read More Senior Australian of the Year Maggie Beer Cook and restaurateur Read More Young Australian of the Year Corporal Mark Donaldson VC Courageous soldier Read More Local Hero Ronni Kahn Food rescuer Read More State and Territory Recipients 2009 Australian of the Year Professor Michael Dodson AM Aboriginal Leader and Advocate for Reconciliation Read More Senior Australian of the Year Pat LaManna OAM Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Read More Young Australian of the Year Jonty Bush Victims Support Worker and Anti-Violence... Read More Local Hero Graeme Drew Sea Rescuer and Educator Read More State and Territory Recipients 2008 Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan OAM Country Music Legend Read More Senior Australian of the Year David Bussau AM Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Read More Young Australian of the Year Casey Stoner MotoGP World Champion Read More Local Hero Jonathon Welch AM Choral Conductor Read More State and Territory Recipients 2007 Australian of the Year Professor Tim Flannery Scientist, Writer and Thinker Read More Senior Australian of the Year Phillip Herreen Disability Mentor Read More Young Australian of the Year Tania Major Indigenous Youth Advocate Read More Local Hero Shanaka Fernando Social Challenger Read More State and Territory Recipients 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer Clinical Immunologist and Inventor of the... Read More Senior Australian of the Year Sally Goold OAM Indigenous Nurse and Mentor Read More Young Australian of the Year Trisha Broadbridge Youth Leader and Tsunami Survivor Read More Local Hero Toni Hoffman Patient Advocate Read More State and Territory Recipients 2005 Australian of the Year Dr Fiona Wood AM Plastic Surgeon and 'Spray-on Skin' Pioneer Read More Senior Australian of the Year Antonio Milhinhos Business Owner and Philanthropist Read More Young Australian of the Year Khoa Do Filmmaker and Community Service Volunteer Read More Local Hero Ben Kearney Environmental Campaigner Read More State and Territory Recipients 2004 Australian of the Year Steve Waugh AO Test Cricket Captain Read More Senior Australian of the Year Tehree Gordon Community Volunteer and Wildlife Rescuer Read More Young Australian of the Year Hugh Evans Anti-Poverty Campaigner Read More Local Hero Donna Carson Survivor of Domestic Violence Read More State and Territory Recipients 2003 Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley AC Epidemiologist and Child Health Expert Read More Senior Australian of the Year Bruce Campbell AM MBE Rural Community Leader Read More Young Australian of the Year Lleyton Hewitt Champion Tennis Player Read More Local Hero Brian Parry AFSM Bushfire Fighter Read More State and Territory Recipients 2002 Australian of the Year Patrick Rafter Champion Tennis Player Read More Young Australian of the Year Scott Hocknull Palaeontologist Read More State and Territory Recipients 2001 Australian of the Year Peter Cosgrove AC MC Commander of the East Timor Peacekeeping... Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor Graeme Clark AC Pioneer of the Bionic Ear Read More Young Australian of the Year James Fitzpatrick Medical Student and Rural Health Campaigner Read More State and Territory Recipients 2000 Australian of the Year Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE Leading Australian Scientist and Reconciliation... Read More Senior Australian of the Year Professor Freda Briggs AO Humanitarian and Child Protection Expert Read More Young Australian of the Year Ian Thorpe OAM World Champion Swimmer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1999 Australian of the Year Mark Taylor AO Test Cricket Captain Read More Senior Australian of the Year Slim Dusty AO MBE Country Music Legend Read More Young Australian of the Year Dr Bryan Gaensler Astronomer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1998 Australian of the Year Cathy Freeman OAM World Champion Athlete Read More Young Australian of the Year Tan Le Community Service Volunteer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1997 Australian of the Year Professor Peter Doherty AC Winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine Read More Young Australian of the Year Nova Peris OAM Olympic Gold Medallist Read More State and Territory Recipients 1996 Australian of the Year Dr John Yu AC Paediatrician and Hospital Administrator Read More Young Australian of the Year Rebecca Chambers Concert Pianist Read More State and Territory Recipients 1995 Australian of the Year Arthur Boyd AC OBE Leading Australian Artist and Public Benefactor Read More Young Australian of the Year Poppy King Entrepreneur Read More State and Territory Recipients 1994 Australian of the Year Ian Kiernan AO Environmental Campaigner and 'Clean Up Australia'... Read More Young Australian of the Year Anna Bown Academic Excellence Read More State and Territory Recipients 1992 Australian of the Year M Yunupingu Aboriginal Educator, Musician and Ambassador Read More Young Australian of the Year Kieren Perkins OAM Olympic Swimmer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1991 Australian of the Year Archbishop Peter Hollingworth AO OBE Social Justice Advocate Read More Young Australian of the Year Simon Fairweather World Champion Archer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1990 Australian of the Year Professor Fred Hollows AC Ophthalmologist and Humanitarian Read More Young Australian of the Year Cathy Freeman OAM Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Read More State and Territory Recipients 1989 Australian of the Year Allan Border AO Test Cricket Captain Read More Young Australian of the Year Brenden Borellini Outstanding Deaf and Blind Student Read More State and Territory Recipients 1988 Australian of the Year Kay Cottee AO Solo Yachtswoman Read More Young Australian of the Year Duncan Armstrong OAM Olympic Swimmer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1987 Australian of the Year John Farnham Singer and Musician Read More Young Australian of the Year Marty Gauvin Computer Expert and Entrepreneur Read More State and Territory Recipients 1986 Australian of the Year Dick Smith Entrepreneur, Adventurer and Philanthropist Read More Young Australian of the Year Simone Young AM Conductor Read More State and Territory Recipients 1985 Australian of the Year Paul Hogan AM Award Winning Actor Read More Young Australian of the Year Deahnne McIntyre OAM Wheelchair Athlete Read More State and Territory Recipients 1984 Australian of the Year Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE Aboriginal Leader Read More Young Australian of the Year Jon Sieben OAM Olympic Swimmer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1983 Australian of the Year Robert de Castella MBE World Champion Marathon Runner Read More Young Australian of the Year Michael Waldock Volunteer Coastguard Read More State and Territory Recipients 1982 Australian of the Year Sir Edward Williams KCMG KBE Brisbane Commonwealth Games Chairman Read More Young Australian of the Year Mark Ella AM Australian Rugby Union Captain Read More State and Territory Recipients 1981 Australian of the Year Sir John Crawford AC CBE Architect of Australia's Post-War Growth Read More Young Australian of the Year Paul Radley Award Winning Author Read More State and Territory Recipients 1980 Australian of the Year Manning Clark AC Historian Read More Young Australian of the Year Peter Hill Quadriplegic Athlete Read More State and Territory Recipients 1979 Australian of the Year Senator Neville Bonner AO First Aboriginal Senator Read More Australian of the Year Harry Butler CBE Conservationist and Naturalist Read More Young Australian of the Year Julie Sochacki Community Service Volunteer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1978 Australian of the Year Alan Bond Entrepreneur and America's Cup Financier Read More Australian of the Year Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM Aboriginal Leader and Land Rights Advocate Read More State and Territory Recipients 1977 Australian of the Year Sir Murray Tyrrell KCVO CBE Official Secretary to Six Governors-General Read More Australian of the Year Dame Raigh Roe CBE Country Women's Association President Read More State and Territory Recipients 1976 Australian of the Year Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop AC CMG OBE Surgeon and Prisoner of War Read More State and Territory Recipients 1975 Australian of the Year Major General Alan Stretton AO CBE Commander of the Cyclone Tracy Relief Operation Read More Australian of the Year Sir John Cornforth AC CBE Winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry Read More State and Territory Recipients 1974 Australian of the Year Sir Bernard Heinze AC Orchestra Conductor and Musician Read More State and Territory Recipients 1973 Australian of the Year Patrick White Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Read More State and Territory Recipients 1972 Australian of the Year Shane Gould MBE Olympic Swimmer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1971 Australian of the Year Evonne Goolagong Cawley AO MBE Tennis Champion Read More State and Territory Recipients 1970 Australian of the Year His Eminence Cardinal Sir Norman Gilroy KBE First Australian-Born Cardinal Read More State and Territory Recipients 1969 Australian of the Year Richard Gardiner Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC KStJ PC Governor General of Australia Read More State and Territory Recipients 1968 Australian of the Year Lionel Rose MBE World Champion Boxer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1967 Australian of the Year The Seekers: Athol Guy, Judith Durham, Keith Potger, and Bruce Woodley Chart Topping Singing Group Read More State and Territory Recipients 1966 Australian of the Year Sir Jack Brabham AO OBE World Champion Motor Racing Driver Read More State and Territory Recipients 1965 Australian of the Year Sir Robert Helpmann CBE Actor, Dancer, Producer and Choreographer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1964 Australian of the Year Dawn Fraser AO MBE Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Read More State and Territory Recipients 1963 Australian of the Year Sir John Eccles AC Winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine Read More State and Territory Recipients 1962 Australian of the Year Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock MBE America's Cup Skipper and Champion Yachtsman Read More State and Territory Recipients 1961 Australian of the Year Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE Leading Opera Singer Read More State and Territory Recipients 1960 Australian of the Year Sir Macfarlane Burnet OM AK KBE Winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine Read More