2025 Australians of the Year for Western Australia announced
The 2025 Australians of the Year for Western Australia were announced at an awards ceremony at Government House in Perth on Tuesday 12 November 2024.
The WA recipients were announced in the four categories of Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Australia’s Local Hero, before invited guests.
The ceremony took place within the Government House Ballroom, with His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM welcoming guests before announcing the recipients. Guests also enjoyed a beautiful Welcome to Country from Mr Barry Winmar and a resounding performance of the National Anthem by Madga Lisk.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, the Honourable Patrick Gorman MP, closed the Awards’ ceremony, which was live streamed on the Australian of the Year Awards website – watch it here.
The four WA recipients will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards ceremony in Canberra on 25 January 2025.
View photos from the night here.
WA 2025 Australians of the Year – Dianne and Ian Haggerty
Dianne and Ian Haggerty are passionate about restoring landscape ecology, producing optimum health promoting food, fibre and beverage while supporting planetary health outcomes.
With the foundation of Natural Intelligence Farming (NIF), Dianne and Ian pioneered a modern farming practise focused on supporting diverse microbiomes in soil, plant, and animals – boosting immune system function, nutrient diversity and resilience. NIF places trust and appreciation in the wisdom of natural systems, enabling them to replace synthetic fertilisers with natural fertility processes, such as plant diversity, compost extract, worm liquids and the microbiome of ruminant livestock. In very dry and poor soil conditions, they’ve pioneered a farming approach that optimises water use and rebuilds soils, biodiversity and landscape function.
Working with 26,000 hectares, Dianne (58) and Ian (59) have demonstrated viability at scale. Their world leading approach has attracted global recognition, with Dianne invited to present at Australian and international conferences supporting other farmers in their own journey.
WA 2025 Senior Australian of the Year – Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett AM
Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996 to provide adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries, free of charge. Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children in over 80 countries.
With over 250 retiree workshop volunteers, Wheelchairs For Kids is one of Western Australia’s largest (and with an average age of 74, one of Australia’s oldest) volunteer-led charities. A further 550 people from aged care and community groups sew covers for wheelchair soft supports, and crochet rugs and soft toys.
Olly also spearheaded the development of an innovative, low-cost wheelchair design to World Health Organization standards that grows as the children do – a world first. Wheelchairs For Kids is just one way that Olly has improved the lives of others.
For 26 continuous years, 83-year-old Olly’s life-changing community service has ignited a ripple effect of kindness and generosity.
WA 2025 Young Australian of the Year – Jack Anderson
At the age of 24, the extent of Jack Anderson’s achievements in the education space and beyond are impressive. He is a keynote speaker, documentary maker, author and a Harvard University Teaching Fellow and scholarship recipient, through which he is pursuing a Master of Education.
Jack founded ThrivEd when he was only 18. The student-run charity produced educational materials and donated them to disadvantaged schools. ThrivEd later merged with another charity to become Elucidate Education, encompassing some 70 volunteers and expanding its reach to tens of thousands of students in Australia and globally.
Jack has led the publication of many textbooks for senior study and coordinates regular trips to remote areas of Western Australia, donating educational materials to the most socio-economically disadvantaged, rural and Indigenous students, empowering them for success.
Through Elucidate Education and a range of other philanthropic initiatives, Jack passionately pursues greater equity and educational access in Australia and beyond.
Jack was unable to attend the Awards’ Ceremony and is currently at Harvard University.
WA 2025 Local Hero – Dr Jacinta Vu
Dr Jacinta Vu uses her considerable specialist skill in dentistry and oral health to generously give back to others. In 2018, she was president of the Women in Dentistry Society, an organisation providing support for female dental practitioners in Western Australia. The society created Healing Smiles to assist women escaping domestic violence with their oral and dental health. It provides trauma-informed care that recognises the importance of good dental health in restoring dignity, self-esteem and confidence as victims rebuild their lives.
In 2020, Jacinta became the clinical director of the female-operated organisation, driving the substantial growth of Healing Smiles’ outreach. Referrals are received from caseworkers and partner organisations to identify eligible clients. Clinicians then triage, plan and complete treatment for patients, pro bono.
With a dedicated clinic planned for Perth and regional dentists on board, Healing Smiles continues to expand its reach, driven by 44-year-old Jacinta’s empathy and desire to help others.