List of Australian Local Hero Award recipients

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} The '''Local Hero Award'''<ref>[http://www.australianoftheyear.gov.au/pages/page25.asp Australian of the Year awardees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118110715/http://www.australianoftheyear.gov.au/pages/page25.asp |date=18 January 2007 }}, accessed 23 January 2012</ref> is a part of the Australian of the Year awards. It commenced in 2003 and is sponsored by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

The Local Hero Award acknowledges extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local community. A Local Hero from each state and territory is chosen each year, with one of the eight state and territory Local Heroes announced as Australia's Local Hero on Australia Day eve each year.

==List of award recipients== {| class=wikitable ! Year ! Name ! Achievement |- | 2003 || {{sortname|Brian|Perry|Brian Perry (firefighter)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AFSM}} ||Bushfire fighter<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll|title=Australian of the Year Awards|website=australianoftheyear.org.au|access-date=2016-03-12}}</ref> |- | 2004 || {{sortname|Donna|Carson|Donna Carson (educator)}} ||Survivor of domestic violence<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2005 || {{sortname|Ben|Kearney}} ||Environmental campaigner<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2006 || {{sortname|Toni|Hoffman}} ||Patient advocate<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2007 || {{sortname|Shanaka|Fernando}} ||Social challenger<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2008 || {{sortname|Jonathon|Welch}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} ||Choral conductor<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2009 || {{sortname|Graeme|Drew}} ||Sea rescuer and educator<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2010 || {{sortname|Ronni|Kahn}} ||Food rescuer<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2011 || {{sortname|Donald|Ritchie|Don Ritchie}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} ||Suicide prevention advocate<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2012 || {{sortname|Lynne|Sawyers}} ||Foster mother<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2013 || {{sortname|Shane|Phillips}} || Indigenous leader<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2014 || {{sortname|Tim|Conolan}} || Children's charity founder<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2015 || {{sortname|Juliette|Wright}} || Social entrepreneur<ref name=":0" /> |- | 2016 || Dr {{sortname|Catherine|Keenan}} || Youth educator<ref name=":0" /> |- |2017 || {{sortname|Vicki|Jellie}} || Campaigned to establish a cancer centre in Warrnambool<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/award-categories/australias-local-hero/ |title=Australia's Local Hero |work=Australian of the Year Awards |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> |- | 2018 || {{sortname|Eddie|Woo}} || Sydney maths teacher<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-25/sam-kerr-named-2018-young-australian-of-the-year/9363108 |title=Sam Kerr named Young Australian of the Year for Matildas exploits and work advocating for women's sport |first=Elise |last=Pianegonda |author2=staff |work=ABC News |date=25 January 2018 |accessdate=25 January 2018 }}</ref> |- | 2019 || Kate and Tick Everett || Campaigned against bullying following daughter's death<ref>{{Citation|title=Kate and Tick Everett named 2019 Australia's Local Hero|date=2019-01-25|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-25/2019-australias-local-hero/10752168|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> |- |2020 |Bernie Shakeshaft |Campaigner for disadvantaged rural youth<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-25/australian-of-year-awards-2020-announced-in-canberra/11901006|title=Australian of the Year acknowledges firefighters as the real heroes in his acceptance speech|last=Pianegonda|first=Elise|date=2020-01-25|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> |- |2021 |Rosemary Kariuki |Activist supporting migrant women |- |2022 |Shanna Whan |Alcohol consumption activist in rural Australia<ref name="2022-01-25_ABC">[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-25/2022-australian-of-the-year-award-recipients-announced/100780998 Paralympian and disability advocate Dylan Alcott named 2022 Australian of the Year], Charlotte Gore, ABC News Online, 2022-01-25</ref> |- |2023 |Amar Singh |Founder of Turbans 4 Australia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sakkal |first=Paul |date=2023-01-25 |title=Body positivity advocate Taryn Brumfitt named Australian of the Year |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/body-positivity-advocate-taryn-brumfitt-named-australian-of-the-year-20230125-p5cf96.html |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> |- |2024 |David Elliott |Co-founder of Australian Age of Dinosaurs and a key figure in boosting the palaeo-tourism industry in Australia. |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |Vanessa Brettell | rowspan="2" |Co-founders of a social enterprise for migrant women<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gore |first=Charlotte |date=2025-01-25 |title=AFL great fighting motor neurone disease is 2025 Australian of the Year |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-25/australian-of-the-year-awards-2025-winners-announced/104859458 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125133800/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-25/australian-of-the-year-awards-2025-winners-announced/104859458 |archive-date=2025-01-25 |access-date=2025-01-25 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- |Hannah Costello |} ==See also== * List of Australian of the Year Award recipients * List of Senior Australian of the Year Award recipients * List of Young Australian of the Year Award recipients

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.citizenship.gov.au/events/local_hero_award/# Australia's Local Hero award]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Local Hero Award}} Australian Local Hero Award recipients Category:Awards established in 2003