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2027 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR NEW SOUTH WALES ANNOUNCED
2027 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS: NSW NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
People making an impact across inclusion, law reform, health, social services, science and community support are among the New South Wales nominees announced today for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.
Seventeen people from across the state have been named as nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards for New South Wales, 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 the creator of community shark bite kits, a Professor providing free medical care for refugees, a woman using a small verandah workshop to build community, a pilot who practises medicine in the outback and a mother whose personal loss has changed domestic violence laws.
The nominees are:
2027 Australian of the Year for New South Wales
Tabitha Acret - Domestic violence campaigner (Newcastle)
Clyde Campbell AM - Parkinson’s disease campaigner (Mosman)
Dwayne Fernandes - Disability advocate (Winston Hills)
Dr Vanessa Pirotta - Marine scientist and communicator (Sydney)
2027 Senior Australian of the Year for New South Wales
Michael (Mick) Brosnan OAM - Co-founder, Social Justice Advocates (Pambula)
Dr David Cooke OAM - Pilot doctor (Port Macquarie)
Emeritus Professor Mark Harris AO - Pro bono doctor to asylum seekers (Ryde)
Professor Hosen Kiat - Leading cardiologist and educator (Darlinghurst)
2027 Young Australian of the Year for New South Wales
Darian Brooker - Children's rights advocate (Holsworthy)
Michaela Loukas - Medical innovator (Kingsgrove)
Danny Schouten - Founder, Community Shark Bite Kits (Bonny Hills)
Grace Toombs - Founder, June Health (Potts Point)
2027 Australia’s Local Hero for New South Wales
Jill Ashley and Paul (Fatty) Ireland - Founders, Shoretrack (Nambucca Heads & Macksville)
Brendan Cullen - Mental health advocate (Broken Hill)
Samantha (Sam) Longmore - Disability advocate (Yass)
Sophie Wilksch - Founder, Shedding Community Workshop Inc (Mullumbimby)
The New South Wales 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 New South Wales represented the diverse ways in which everyday people could contribute to their communities.
"This is an exceptional group of Australians, united by a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Whether through sharing their experiences or using their skills and talents, each is making a meaningful contribution to their community," said Ms Leeson.
The 2027 New South Wales award recipients will be announced on Wednesday 4 November in Sydney. The ceremony will also be available to watch via livestream at australianoftheyear.org.au
The New South Wales 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.
ENDS
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: NSW 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