Over 500 students were left inspired following a school students' forum at Western Sydney University in September.
2023 NSW Young Australian of the Year Lottie Dalziel, 2023 Australia's Local Hero Amar Singh, 2023 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Teresa Plane and 2023 NSW Australian of the Year Craig Foster AM spoke about their passions, impact and being advocates for change.
Genesis dominates
We already knew he was a bit of a musical legend but 2023 ACT Young Australian of the Year, hip-hop artist Genesis Owusu, has dominated nominations for the 2023 Aria awards, receiving nods in seven categories.
Read more about KofiSETTING THE STANDARD FOR REPRESENTATION
2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO announced the launch of the Shift 20 Initiative: a coalition of leading brands – led by the Dylan Alcott Foundation – committed to increasing disability representation, inclusion and accessibility in Australia's advertising and media landscape. A powerful movement!
Crucial conversations take centre stage
A thought-provoking and inspiring panel discussion took place in Hobart featuring four of our incredible alumni. The 'Breaking the Silence: Empowering Voices, Inspiring Change' panel event was organised by Tasmania's Department of Premier and Cabinet, part of the Australia Day National Network. 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt, 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, 2023 TAS Australian of the Year John Kamara and 2020 TAS Local Hero Tom Windsor each brought their own unique perspectives and insights on the power of representation and using your voice to make change.
More info about the speakersPOSITIVE AGEING
What does 'ageing well' look like to you? 2023 WA Senior Australian of the Year Theresa Kwok explains the importance of culture, connection and community for older people in Australia in this video.
It's part of a great new campaign with the Department of Health and Aged Care, partner of the Senior Australian of the Year award.
The jackeroo helping troubled teens
This news story on BackTrack, the youth-led program by 2020 Australia's Local Hero Bernie Shakeshaft, reached new communities who are keen to see similar opportunities for young people and alternatives to incarceration in their own towns.
Watch nowNorthern Territory reform
The Northern Territory Parliament has become the last jurisdiction in the country to remove the word "relationship" from child sexual abuse legislation, in a move welcomed by 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame. The change is in line with recommendations from the child sexual abuse royal commission.
Read moreHelping kids fall in love with football
2018 Young Australian of the Year Sam Kerr OAM is ready to develop the next generation of Matildas and Socceroos after unveiling her own football academy. The program, designed for girls and boys aged 3 – 14, supports young players on their sporting journey by building their football skills, their confidence, resilience, expectations and their knowledge. "“Being in the position I’m in today, I want to give back to the sport I love and to my young fans. It’s an incredible privilege to be able to share what I have learned to better the sport, to build a legacy, and to inspire and connect with the next generation of Australian footballers.”
Read moreLymphoedema advocate's big win
2022 SA Local Hero Monique Bareham is making huge inroads on her mission to ensuring people living with lymphoedema are seen, heard and supported. Monique has been acknowledged for her contribution in a recent paper by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: "Towards an estimate of the prevalence of lymphoedema in Australia."
Read the paperTalei speaks at Bush Summit
2023 QLD Young Australian of the Year Talei Elu was part of a panel discussion recently at the Bush Summit 2023 on Liveability in Queensland. What needs to be done to ensure Queenslanders, especially those living in more rural areas, have access to the most basic needs?
Watch nowDOING DEATH BETTER
Palliative care researcher and 2023 WA Australian of the Year Professor Samar Aoun joined Dying to Know Day community manager Jessie Williams for this interesting talk.
Find out how and why individuals and communities should change their approach to death, dying, grief and loss.
War on Waste
Did you catch 2023 NSW Young Australian of the Year Lottie Dalziel on ABC's new season of War on Waste? The sustainability champion takes us into her Sydney-based recycling operation led by wonderful volunteers, sorting everything from razers to blister packs. 2010 Australia's Local Hero Ronni Kahn AO will also be making an appearance.
Watch on ABC iViewCelebrating Claude
2023 QLD Senior Australian of the Year Claude Lyle Harvey OAM kicks off his annual Child Protection Week Walk on the Gold Coast late Aug. Claude has been fundraising for Bravehearts, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, for the past 16 years and has raised more than one million dollars.
Support ClaudeHUMANISING MISSING PEOPLE
VIC Australian of the Year nominee Loren O’Keeffe founded The Missed Foundation to alleviate the practical and emotional impact on their loved ones left behind.
Launching for National Missing Persons Week, Missed produced a world-first training tool to inform the ways that complex grief shows up in people’s lives when someone is missing.
Doctors fight systemic hurdles in treating eating disorders
We love to see our alumni collaborating to achieve great things! 2010 Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry AO, 2019 VIC Young Australian of the Year Dr Skye Kinder and 2022 QLD Young Australian of the Year Dr Tahnee Bridson have co-authored a paper on the barriers doctors face when it comes to treating eating disorders. Eating disorders sit outside of the normal medical treatment model, making access to treatment and care in Australia very difficult for patients and putting additional pressure on doctors.
Read moreWilliam Barton's latest award
Our 2023 QLD Australian of the Year has received the 2023 Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music. William is the youngest recipient ever and the first Indigenous recipient. Photo by: Keith Saunders
Read more on ABC"I thought they would not survive"
2019 joint Australian of the Year Dr Richard Harris recounts the heroic, international team effort to rescue a group of 12-year-old boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.
Listen nowHOW DID I GET HERE?
If you’ve seen any blue trees out in the wild, Kendall Whyte is the genius behind them.
The 2022 WA Young Australian of the Year started the Blue Tree Project to spark conversations surrounding mental health. It was born after the loss of her brother Jayden, who took his own life in 2018.
Stymie win
Congratulations to 2020 QLD Australian of the Year Rachel Downie whose anonymous harm reporting tool, Stymie, picked up the Small Business Innovation Award in the Australia Post ORIA Awards. Implemented nationally and internationally, students are using Stymie to report such things as family violence, bullying, depression and self-harm.
Learn more about RachelNominee spotlight: Saschveen Singh
In-between shifts at a Perth emergency department, Dr Saschveen Singh shares what drives her to help people on a local and global scale, from Indigenous health services in rural WA to malaria vaccine strategy at the headquarters of Médecins Sans Frontières. She was recognised as a finalist for 2023 WA Australian of the Year.
Read moreVAPING AND OUR KIDS
Vaping has dangerous short-term and long-term health implications, with even passive vaping effects similar to passive smoking.
2023 VIC Australian of the Year Dr Angraj Khillan reveals the disturbing truth about children and vaping today and how parents can help them.
An eye-opening chat...