WESTERN AUSTRALIA NOMINEES FOR
2022 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED
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Nominees for the 2022 Western Australia Australian of the Year Awards include a Noongar culture conservationist, a public safety expert, a man helping migrants settle, artists shining a light on disability and diversity and a man giving haircuts to the homeless.
They are among 16 WA residents in the running to be named the Western Australia Local Hero, Young Australian, Senior Australian or Australian of the Year.
The 2022 Western Australia award nominees are:
Western Australia Australian of the Year
Kirstin Butcher – Founder and CEO of genvis (Perth)
Julia Hales – Performance artist and disability advocate (Perth)
Dr Scott Hollier – Co-founder and CEO of the Centre For Accessibility Australia (Maida Vale) Paul Litherland – Cyber safety educator and campaigner (Perth)
Western Australia Young Australian of the Year
Sukhjit Khalsa – Spoken word artist, writer and performer (Perth)
Tom Oliver – Activist for people with autism in the justice system (Fremantle) Dr Hayley Passmore – Child health researcher in neurodisability (Perth) Kendall Whyte – Founder/CEO of the Blue Tree Project (Claremont)
Western Australia Senior Australian of the Year
Professor Nigel Laing AO – Winthrop Research Professor at UWA (Kingsley)
Dante Maribbay – Community leader (Ballajura)
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger AC – Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at UWA (Perth) Janice Standen – President of Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA (Perth)
Western Australia Local Hero
Catrina Aniere – CEO of Millennium Kids (Perth)
Professor Leonard Collard – Professor at UWA’s School of Indigenous Studies (Perth) Kenneth (Ken) Gibbons – Founder of Telethon Community Cinemas (Perth) Craig Hollywood – Founder/CEO of Short Back & Sidewalks (Perth)
*see bios on following pages
The nominees are among 129 people being recognised across all states and territories as part of the program, which began in 1960.
The four award recipients from Western Australia will be announced on the evening of Thursday 4 November in a ceremony at the Westin Hotel in Perth which will also be available to watch online via livestream.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2022.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the Western Australia nominees on being selected for consideration in this year’s awards.
“The Western Australia nominees are achieving and contributing in many different ways,” said Ms Brand. “From grassroots community to global impact, they are making an impact.”