Australian of the Year Awards: One Year On with 2025 WA Local Hero, Jacinta Vu
One year on from being named WA Local Hero in the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for her care and compassion towards women who have experienced domestic violence, we caught up with Dr Jacinta Vu to reflect on the past 12 months, discover her highlights of the year, share her words of advice for the 2026 recipient, and explore how the recognition has impacted her and Healing Smiles.
What do you remember about the night you were named WA 2025 Local Hero?
What I remember most about that night was just being in absolute awe of all the nominees, particularly the finalists in the Local Hero category itself. Honestly, I was convinced one of the other fantastic finalists was going to be named the winner. So, I was really and truly astounded when it was my name that was called out. It was an unforgettable night, one that was very joyful. Above all, I felt so profoundly proud and grateful in that moment.
What have been your highlights of the past year since being recognised?
The biggest highlight has definitely been going to Canberra for the national Australian of the Year Awards and meeting all the state and territory winners. Everyone was equally incredible; I really enjoyed being surrounded by people who embody such courage, compassion, and a commitment to action. I feel that I have made lifelong friends, especially with the other WA recipients. The Governor-General’s visit to the Healing Smiles clinic was a tremendous honour, and very uplifting.
On a more personal note, it’s been wonderful seeing my children’s reactions – the surprise of seeing posters of me randomly in shopping centres and them having seen me on TV. It touches my heart that they are so proud of me, and that they want to tell everybody what their mum has achieved!
Were there any unexpected opportunities or challenges that came as a result of receiving the award?
There have been some great, unexpected opportunities, like being nominated for other awards by members of the public and my team, which was humbling. I’ve also had multiple chances to speak to diverse groups who are interested in the issue of family and domestic violence. The award has generated a huge amount of opportunities – the speaking engagements, the profile-raising, and meetings.
My primary personal challenge has been managing the intense juggling act. I have my full-time job as an oral medicine specialist in my own practice, my volunteer director role in Healing Smiles, and my family life. Healing Smiles’ need for ongoing funding to keep our services running, and applying for grants and looking actively for partnerships, is very time consuming. Finding a sustainable balance for all of my roles has been the most demanding part of the year, and I would not have been able to manage without support from my colleagues at our practice, my fellow Board Members of Healing Smiles, or my family.
How has the recognition impacted Healing Smiles?
The impact on Healing Smiles has been truly profound. Our volunteers work diligently, often not wanting or receiving recognition, and sometimes their huge contributions go unseen. The award has illuminated all of our volunteers and the immense effort that brought us to where we are now. Our team has been completely energized, and our profile has been raised much more highly following the awards.
The award has provided us with a powerful platform to advance the message of trauma-informed care in dentistry. I’ve personally used this to challenge other dentists and specialists, as well as people in other health roles, to focus on healing, hope, and empowerment for the whole patient, not just the technical aspects of dentistry. We are actively making others aware that this approach is feasible, possible, and vital for every patient, regardless of whether we know their history. This is how modern dental care must be delivered.
How has it impacted you personally? Has it changed your perspective on your work and your social impact?
Personally, the recognition has given me a real sense of clarity and validation that the path I’m on is the right one. It’s an affirmation that the work is making a difference, and being seen and heard helps generate more interest and support for people in need. It’s also confirmed my role as an advocate, giving me a louder voice to speak up about the issues that matter most in our community.
I have always seen the award as a platform to represent the entire Healing Smiles team, to share the incredible work of our volunteers and to shine a light on them as well. But, I also now see it as an important recognition of my own leadership.
Regarding my own approach to work, the award really reaffirmed what I’ve always believed: that dentistry must consider the whole person. Being kind, non-judgemental, and truly listening to a patient’s story is how we align with the trauma-informed care model at Healing Smiles. I’ve always prioritised this, and I’m now even more mindful of doing this every single day with every patient that I can.
What words of advice would you give to the 2026 recipient?
You may feel undeserving initially, but please know that you 100% deserve it. You are there because you took action and gave a voice to the voiceless; you are amazing – now, own it with pride!
My advice for the year is to be selective; take the opportunities that genuinely align with you and give you energy, because there will be many to choose from. Importantly, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’. You absolutely have to look after yourself, and the more you operate in alignment with your own values, the more powerful and sustainable your voice and your message will become.
What does the future look like for yourself and Healing Smiles?
The future for myself involves continuing the work I love: advocating for my patients, providing excellent care, and maintaining my director role in the leadership of Healing Smiles, as well as spending time with my family.
The future for the organisation is very bright. We are focused on securing a long-term partner who can help us achieve sustainable growth. We hope to expand into the WA regions and then share our learnings nationally and internationally. We want to demonstrate to the world that a trauma-informed model of dental care is not just an ethical obligation, but a fundamental standard that must be adopted for every single patient. Watch out, because Healing Smiles is a force to be reckoned with, and you will certainly hear more from us!