Thirty-three inspirational Australians have been named as the national finalists for the Australian of the Year Awards.
Each of the national finalists have been nominated for an Australian of the Year Award by the National Australia Day Council due to their impact and achievement in a range of sectors.
These sectors include science and medicine, social and community projects, human rights advocacy, social entrepreneurship, sustainability and contributions to the pandemic response.
Each of the state and territory award recipients were announced at local ceremonies which were streamed online.
These Australians are now in consideration for the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards.
2022 Australian of the Year
- ACT Australian of the Year: Patrick (Patty) Mills. Basketball player and Indigenous rights advocate.
- NSW Australian of the Year: Professor Veena Sahajwalla. Founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology at the University of New South Wales.
- NT Australian of the Year: Leanne Liddle. Director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit.
- Queensland Australian of the Year: Sue and Lloyd Clarke. Founders of Small Steps 4 Hannah.
- SA Australian of the Year: Professor Helen Marshall. Vaccination researcher.
- Tasmania Australian of the Year: Craig Leeson. Documentary filmmaker and journalist.
- Victoria Australian of the Year: Dylan Alcott OAM. Athlete, paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate.
- WA Australian of the Year: Paul Litherland. Cyber safety educator and campaigner.
2022 Senior Australian of the Year
- ACT Senior Australian of the Year: Valmai Dempsey. Volunteer at St John Ambulance.
- NSW Senior Australian of the Year: Abla Kadous. President of the Islamic Women’s Welfare Association.
- NT Senior Australian of the Year: Robyne Burridge OAM. Disability services advocate and Founder of Focus-A-Bility.
- Queensland Senior Australian of the Year: Dr Colin Dillon AM APM. Australia’s first Indigenous police officer.
- SA Senior Australian of the Year: Mark Le Messurier. Educator, counsellor and author.
- Tasmania Senior Australian of the Year: Bruce French AO. Agricultural scientist and Founder of Food Plants International.
- Victoria Senior Australian of the Year: Gaye Hamilton. Deputy Chancellor of Victoria University.
- WA Senior Australian of the Year: Janice Standen. President of Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA.
2022 Young Australian of the Year
- ACT Young Australian of the Year: Sean Dondas. Former Board Director at CanTeen.
- NSW Young Australian of the Year: Dr Daniel Nour. Founder of Street Side Medics.
- NT Young Australian of the Year: Sizolwenkosi Fuyana. Businesswoman, podcaster and youth advocate.
- Queensland Young Australians of the Year: Dr Tahnee Bridson. Founder of Hand-n-Hand Peer Support.
- SA Young Australian of the Year: Dr Trudy Lin. Special Needs Dentistry consultant at Adelaide Dental Hospital.
- Tasmania Young Australian of the Year: Kaytlyn Johnson. Youth leader and singer-songwriter.
- Victoria Young Australian of the Year: Ahmed Hassan. Co-founder and executive director of Youth Activating Youth.
- WA Young Australian of the Year: Kendall Whyte. Founder and CEO of the Blue Tree project.
2022 Australia’s Local Hero
- ACT Local Hero: Luke Ferguson. Youth support worker at The Woden School.
- NSW Local Hero: Shanna Whan. Founder and CEO of Sober in the Country.
- NT Local Hero: Rebecca Forrest. Event organiser and fundraiser.
- Queensland Local Hero: Saba Abraham. Community leader, founder and Manager of social enterprise Mu’ooz Restaurant & Catering.
- SA Local Hero: Monique Bareham. President of Lymphoedema Association SA Inc.
- Tasmania Local Hero: Kimberley (Kim) Smith APM.Community volunteer with the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove.
- Victoria Local Hero: Leo op den Brouw. Volunteer with the Mallacoota State Emergency Service.
- WA Local Hero: Craig Hollywood. Founder and CEO of Short Back & Sidewalks.
Nominations for Australian of the Year Awards are open year-round and can be submitted online through the Australian of the Year website.