Australian of the Year

2027 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS: QUEENSLAND NOMINEES ANNOUNCED 

People making an impact across community support, conservation, child safety, First Nations healthcare, disability advocacy, domestic violence prevention and volunteering, as well as a record-breaking pilot and athlete, are among the nominees for the 2027 Queensland Australian of Year Awards. 

Sixteen people from across the state have been named as nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards for Queensland, with nominees recognised in each of the Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero categories. 

Among this year’s nominees are parents educating children about safety following the abduction of their son, a wildlife conservationist using the camera lens to take his message global, the youngest person to circumnavigate Australia in a supported light aircraft and a man who arrived in Australian on humanitarian grounds to become a tower of community strength. The nominees also include a woman tackling domestic violence through intervention and prevention, a teenage gymnastics sensation using her own experience to make mobility easier for those with disability, a surfer changing the lives of kids in need, a sprinter breaking records, and a man whose weekly barbecue has become a source of comfort to the community.  

The nominees are: 

2027 Australian of the Year for Queensland 
Beny Bol OAM - Community leader (Marsden) 
Robert Irwin - Wildlife conservationist (Beerwah) 
Bruce Morcombe OAM and Denise Morcombe OAM - Child safety campaigners (Sunshine Coast) 
Carolyn Robinson - Founder, Beyond DV (Kangaroo Point) 

2027 Senior Australian of the Year for Queensland 
Carmel Crouch AM - Advocate for people with disability (Sunshine Coast) 
Joan O'Keefe OAM - Community volunteer (Gold Coast) 
Cait Wildman - Community builder (Kelvin Grove) 

2027 Young Australian of the Year for Queensland 
Ruby Allen - Founder, Kids of Purple (Gold Coast) 
Ava Costa - Disability support advocate (Gumdale) 
Gout Gout - Sprint sensation (Ipswich) 
Byron Waller - Record-breaking pilot (South Brisbane) 

2027 Australia’s Local Hero for Queensland 
Noel Brown - First Nations hospital greeter (East Trinity) 
Jenny Jenner - Founder, Kalbar Sunflower Festival (Kalbar) 
Mark Skinner - Founder, Surf for Kids (Sunshine Coast) 
Terry Summerell - Community volunteer (Port Douglas) 

The Queensland nominees are among 130 people being recognised across all states and territories in the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards. 

National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said the nominees for Queensland were an inspiring group of Australians. 

“The Queensland nominees are excelling in diverse ways. Whether they’re chasing spectacular goals on the world stage, supporting those in need or strengthening communities at the grassroots level – they are all doing wonderful work,” said Ms Leeson. 

The 2027 Queensland award recipients will be announced on Monday 16 November in Brisbane. The ceremony will also be available to watch via livestream at australianoftheyear.org.au 

The Queensland award recipients will then join recipients from the other states and territories as finalists for the national Australian of the Year Awards, announced in Canberra on 25 January 2027. 

Detailed nominee biographies follow and are also available at australianoftheyear.org.au. 

Photos for download: Photos provided by the nominees for editorial use can be downloaded from here: QLD Nominee photos - supplied by nominees    (please use photo credits where noted on file names) 

Media contact:   Nicole Browne, media opps  0414 673 762   nicole@mediaopps.com.au