2026 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR VICTORIA ANNOUNCED
Nominees for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for Victoria include sisters bringing children and aged care residents together, a brain cancer research fundraiser, a former ballet dancer turned advocate for people with disabilities, a gardener, a man giving elderly people a safe place to live, a woman saving our wildlife and a geologist who helped rescue workers from a collapsed tunnel.
The nominees are:
2026 Australian of the Year for Victoria
Carrie Bickmore OAM - Brain cancer fundraiser (Melbourne)
Hugh van Cuylenburg - Mental health leader (Alphington)
Professor Arnold Dix - Geologist and disaster rescuer (Monbulk)
Leila Sweeney-McDougall - Farmer’s health filmmaker (Tatyoon)
2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria
Thi Be Ha OAM - Refugee support volunteer (Glen Waverley)
Uncle Leonard Clarke - Indigenous justice campaigner (Kikkabush Aboriginal Community, Purnim)
Jane Edmanson OAM - Gardening educator (Prahran)
Bryan Lipmann AM - Elderly homeless advocate (Richmond)
2026 Young Australian of the Year for Victoria
Tim Harte - Scientist and disability advocate (Gnarwarre)
Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch - Innovative scientific researcher (Craigieburn)
Abraham Kuol - Mentor and community leader (Narre Warren)
Lucy Skelton - Public policy advocate (Kew)
2026 Local Hero for Victoria
Fiona Glumac and Anna Glumac - Intergenerational childcare pioneers (Mornington)
Carly McKinnis and Tammie Meehan - Rural mental health advocates (Ararat)
Susan Moore - Wildlife rescuer and carer (Tarwin Lower)
Linda Widdup - Farming community organiser (Carlisle River)
The nominees for Victoria are among 134 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Victoria award recipients will be announced on Thursday 6 November 2025 in a ceremony at the Arts Centre Melbourne, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2026 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO said the Victorian nominees reflected the power of an individual to make a positive impact.
“The nominees for the Victorian awards share a sense of passion and purpose,” said Mark.
“From lives spent advocating for others, selflessly giving to care for those in need, finding new ways to solve problems or create change, they are all driven by a sense of caring.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios on the following pages and can also be viewed from australianoftheyear.org.au.
Nominees have supplied photos which can be downloaded from this link: VIC Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au