Each year our nation celebrates the diverse and remarkable contributions of extraordinary Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards.
Australians of the Year inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia.
Visit the Australian of the Year website to see the 2021 finalists and previous winners.
Tour of Honour
Since 2010, NSW has supported a ‘Tour of Honour’ for NSW or national recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards. The tour brings recipients of the nation’s most respected honour to school students and community members around NSW, and provides an opportunity to promote the Australian of the Year Awards program.
The 2019 Tour of Honour took NSW recipients Kurt Fearnley AO (NSW Australian of the Year), Heather Lee OAM (Senior) and Sophie Smith (Local Hero) to the regional NSW town of Maitland. The group visited Bolwarra Public School, Maitland High School, Opal nursing home and Maitland PCYC.
The 2017 Tour of Honour took NSW recipients Deng Adut (NSW Australian of the Year), Dr John Knight AM (Senior), Arthur Alla (Young) and Josephine Peter (Local Hero) to the far western NSW town of Broken Hill. In addition to school visits, the group participated in a School of the Air lesson, visited nursing homes and met Royal Flying Doctor Service staff.
The 2016 Tour of Honour took NSW recipients Elizabeth Broderick AO (NSW Australian of the Year), Professor Gordian Fulde AO (Senior), Melissa Abu-Gazaleh (Young) and Dr Catherine Keenan (Local Hero) to the North Coast of NSW for three days to visit schools, Port Macquarie Base Hospital and the then-brand-new UNSW Medical Research and Education facility.
