Western Australian finalists of 2023 Australian of the Year Awards announced
Finalists for the WA 2023 Australian of the Year Awards include a Lifeline ambassador, an advocate for Stolen Generations survivors, an Autism researcher, a Paralympic gold medallist, an Olympian and a tropical disease adviser.
They are just some of the 16 people in the running to be named WA Australian of the Year, WA Senior Australian of the Year, WA Young Australian of the Year and WA Local Hero.
The 2023 Western Australian award finalists are:
2023 WA Australian of the Year
Professor Samar Aoun – Researcher, advocate for end-of-life care, bereavement support (Bunbury)
Rodney Bridge – Founder, Sideffect and anti-synthetic drugs campaigner (Churchlands)
Dr Saschveen Singh – Tropical infectious disease adviser (Perth)
Professor Andrew Whitehouse – Autism researcher and science communicator (Mount Hawthorn)
2023 WA Senior Australian of the Year
Vince Garreffa – Lifeline ambassador, fundraiser and Chair, Mondo Community Warriors (Mount Lawley)
Theresa Kwok – Community advocate (Joondanna)
Antoinette (Toni) Russell – Community volunteer (Kingsley)
Carole Stacey – Paediatric physiotherapist and special needs advocate (Mandurah)
2023 WA Young Australian of the Year
Zahra Al Hilaly – Gender equality and youth advocate (Mirrabooka)
Nagmeldin (Peter) Bol – Athlete and Olympian (Thornlie)
Madison de Rozario OAM – Athlete, Paralympic gold medallist, advocate
Scott Guerini – Telethon fundraiser and initiator, Scott’s Great Walk (Alkimos)
2023 WA Local Hero
James (Jim) Morrison – Advocate for Stolen Generations survivors and founder, Yokai (Dianella)
James (Jimmy) Murphy – Co-founder, Town Team Movement (Leederville)
Helen Shervington OAM – Co-founder and Chairwoman, CinefestOZ (Busselton)
Janine Wood – Co-founder, No Limits Perth (Madeley)
Find out more about each of the finalists here.
The four 2023 WA Australian of the Year Awards recipients will be announced on Monday 14 November 2022 in a ceremony at Government House, Perth, which will also be available to watch via ABC iView from 7.00pm (local Perth time).
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2023 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the WA finalists on their recognition.
“The 2023 Western Australian nominees reflect the wide and varied people of the state and their extraordinary achievements,” said Karlie. “What an inspirational group of people, all of whom have something we can learn from, be inspired by or be supported by.”
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit australianoftheyear.org.au.