MEDIA RELEASE
THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2023
2024 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES FOR VICTORIA ANNOUNCED
A foster mum, educators, a firefighter battling for the health of his colleagues, a piano teacher, a reforestation pioneer, an animal welfare advocate and a man bringing communities together through a ‘gnarly’ neighbourhood program are among nominees for the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards for Victoria.
The 2024 award nominees are:
2024 Australian of the Year for Victoria
Janine Mohamed - Indigenous health leader (Gisborne)
Anthony Rinaudo AM - Reforestation pioneer, World Vision Australia (Ringwood)
Michael Tisbury AFSM - Firefighter, anti-PFAS campaigner (Healesville)
Andrew-James Tchen - Social worker and founder, Girraway Ganyi Consultancy (Melbourne)
2024 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria
Lyn Geer – Volunteer (St Helena)
Glenys Oogjes - Animal justice advocate (Heidelberg)
Daphne Proietto OAM - Piano teacher and pioneer of Music Thera-play (Bulleen)
Guosheng Yang Chen - Life-long educator at RMIT University (Melbourne)
2024 Young Australian of the Year for Victoria
Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai - Registered nurse and founder, Albury Wodonga Multicultural
Community Events Inc (Wodonga)
Jayden Sheridan - Founder, Gnarly Neighbours (Seymour)
Ashleigh Streeter-Jones - Youth and gender equality advocate and founder,
Raise Our Voice Australia (Kensington)
Charlotte Young - Youth and disability advocate (Kew)
2024 Local Hero for Victoria
Ahmed Jamal Elsheikh - Anti-racism advocate and founder, Reflect Forward (Abbotsford)
Kerryn Longmuir - Foster mum (Greensborough)
Daniel Mancuso and Luke Mancuso - Advocates against family violence and co-founders,
YiaYia Next Door (Reservoir)
Betul Tuna - Co-founder, Point of Difference Studio (Shepparton)
The Victoria nominees are among 133 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Victoria award recipients will be announced on Tuesday 14 November 2023 in a ceremony at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on Thursday 25 January 2024 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the Victoria nominees on their recognition.
“The nominees for the Victoria awards are outstanding in their achievements and contributions,” said Mark.
“They are dedicated to making a difference – for others, for the future, for the land and those most in need.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios can be viewed from the australianoftheyear.org.au homepage
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link: Victoria Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au