A hero police officer, a paralysed rugby player defying the odds, friends using tie-dyed t-shirts to support cancer research, First Nations leaders, an aged-care activist and Australia’s coolest science educator are just some of the nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for NSW.
The 2025 award nominees are:
2025 Australian of the Year for NSW
- Jess Hill – Journalist, author and educator on coercive control (Coogee)
- Kath Koschel – Founder, Kindness Factory (Cronulla)
- Daniel Principe – Youth advocate and educator (Bondi Beach)
- Inspector Amy Scott VA – NSW Police officer (Sydney)
2025 Senior Australian of the Year for NSW
- Gwenda Darling (pictured) – Dementia and aged care activist (Finley)
- Professor Michelle Haber AM – Childhood cancer researcher (Coogee)
- Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM – Science enthusiast and educator (Maroubra)
- Aunty Glendra Stubbs OAM – Counsellor and First Nations leader (Bullaburra)
2025 Young Australian of the Year for NSW
- Noor Azizah – Co-founder, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (Roseville)
- Alex Noble – Founder, Alex Noble Foundation (Gladesville)
- Maddison O’Gradey-Lee – Mental health advocate and researcher (Bateau Bay)
- Molly Croft & Amy Parmenter – Co-founders, The Tie Dye Project (Dubbo/Paddington)
2025 Local Hero for NSW
- Adam DeMamiel – Co-founder, Boys to the Bush (Albury/Wodonga)
- Martha Jabour OAM – Co-founder, Homicide Victims Support Group (Carlingford)
- Claude Robinson – Manager, The Rainbow Lodge Program (Glebe)
- Renuka Fernando and Ben Stammer – Co-founders, ReLove (Bronte/Cremorne)
The nominees for NSW are among 137 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The award recipients for NSW will be announced on the evening of Wednesday 13 November 2024 in a ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the nominees for NSW.
“The NSW nominees for 2025 are ordinary people who are doing exceptional things,” said Mr Fraser.
“They remind us of what is possible when we choose to overcome challenges, be a force for good, take on leadership and educational roles or step up when the occasion calls.”
