Celebrating inspirational Australians

Australian of the Year Awards

For more than 65 years the Australian of the Year Awards have recognised outstanding achievements of inspirational Australians. The Awards uncover leading citizens who can be role models for us all. They prompt us to think about how we too, can contribute to creating a better Australia. 

Each year, recipients are awarded across four categories: 

• Australian of the Year
• Senior Australian of the Year (those aged 65 and over)
• Young Australian of the Year (those aged 16 to 30)
• Australia’s Local Hero.
   

Australia’s Local Heroes

The award for Australia’s Local Hero was introduced in 2003. This category honours people who are making a difference in their local communities.

Meet the 2026 Australia’s Local Hero nominees and find out why they contribute to their communities and who inspires them. Listen as they give advice on how you can contribute to your community!

Visit the Australian of the Year Awards website to find our more about the 2026 recipients.

Activities

Discussion
1. What local issues matter to you? How could you help solve a problem or support people in your community? Who could you talk to or work with to make it happen?

2. Why do you think we celebrate people’s achievements and contributions through the Australian of the Year Awards? 

Creative
3. What qualities do you think a local hero has? Make a list. Who in your community or school, demonstrates these qualities? Design a poster that captures their qualities and achievements.

Research
4. Using the Australian of the Year website choose a previous finalist in the Australia’s Local Hero category from your state or territory. Use the internet to research answers to the questions below. Remember to select reliable sources you can trust.

What did this person achieve and how did they do it?

• How do you think their identity shaped their actions?
• What challenges did they face and how did they overcome them?
• How did their year as Australia’s Local Hero help advance their work and what have they gone on to achieve since then?
• What have been the impacts of their work?
• How could we build on their legacy today?

Challenge
Did you know that anyone in Australia can nominate someone else for an Australian of the Year award? Is there an active citizen in your local community who has contributed positively to the lives of those around them?

5. Using the information you’ve found about the Awards, script and record a short audio profile of the local hero you’ve chosen. Your class might even like to create your own podcast series!
You might like to go ahead and formally nominate your local hero. Ask an adult to help you with the submission process.

Aussie of the Month is a primary school recognition program focusing on personal endeavour, achievement and community contribution.

6. Talk to your teacher about how your school can join this civics and citizenship program and recognise students doing great things in your school community and beyond.