AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR Award recognises people who inspire us through their achievements to be better, do better. They have become role models in our communities challenging us to contribute in our own way to making Australia and the world a better place.

Every year the national Australian of the Year Awards are awarded on Australia Day. The Australian of the Year Awards started in 1960 and is a program of the National Australia Day Council.

Present to 1991 … 1990 to 1976 … 1975 to 1960

Award Year	Name	Born	Died	A little bit about them . . .
2016	David Morrison	1956		Australian Chief of Army, stated priorities of republic, domestic violence, gender equality.
2015	Rosie Batty	1962		Australian family violence campaigner, her selfless efforts put domestic violence on the national agenda
2014	Adam Goodes	1980		AFL player and community leader, winner of two Brownlow Medals, an active role model for indigenous youth
2013	Ita Buttrose	1942		Australian journalist and businesswoman, founding editor of Cleo, President of Alzheimer’s Australia
2012	Geoffrey Rush	1951		Australian actor and producer, won an Oscar for the film Shine, recognized for his contribution to the arts
2011	Simon McKeon	1955		Social entrepreneur, philanthropist businessman, shows how business and philanthropy can be partners
2010	Patrick McGorry	1953		Professor, mental health expert, educating and advocating for youth mental health reform world wide.
2009	Michael Dodson	1950		Professor, Aboriginal leader, advocate for reconciliation, first Indigenous Australian to receive a law degree
2008	Lee Kernaghan	1964		Country music singer, supports rural & regional Australia helping raise over a million dollars for drought relief
2007	Tim Flannery	1956		Professor, scientist, author of The Weather Makers, a study of human induced climate change
2006	Ian Frazer	1953		Professor, immunologist, with his team created 4 vaccines for the prevention & treatment of cervical cancer
2005	Fiona Wood	1958		Plastic surgeon, spray-on skin pioneer, worked with burn victims of the 2002 Bali bombings
2004	Steve Waugh	1965		Champion test cricket captain, philanthropic work with victims of leprosy in India
2003	Fiona Stanley	1946		Professor, epidemiologist & child health expert, stresses value of research to improve Aboriginal and children’s lives
2002	Patrick Rafter	1972		Champion tennis player, strong belief in fair play, won ATP Sportsmanship Award 5 times, donated half prize money from US Open to Starlight Children’s Foundation
2001	Peter Cosgrove	1947		General, awarded Military Cross 1971, commander of International Force East Timor, Chief of Australian Army
2000	Gustav Nossal	1931		Biologist, President of Australian Academy of Science (1994-98), tireless campaigner for scientific research
1999	Mark Taylor	1964		Australian test cricket captain, regarded as an innovative and effective leader
1998	Cathy Freeman	1973		World champion athlete, gold medal 1994 Commonwealth Games, silver medal 1996 Olympic Games; lit Olympic Flame at Opening Ceremony 2000 Sydney
1997	Peter Doherty	1940		Professor, immunologist; awarded 1996 Nobel Prize in Medicine for groundbreaking research
1996	John Yu	1934		Paediatrician and hospital administrator, driving force in improvements to Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
1995	Arthur Boyd	1920	-1999	Leading Australian artist, named Australian of Year for his extraordinary contribution to Australian art and his great generosity to the Australian nation
1994	Ian Kiernan	1940		Global environmentalist; founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World
1993	No award made			the award dating system changed
1992	Mandawuy Yunupingu	1956		Aboriginal educator, singer, founded band Yothu Yindi, first Indigenous Australian to be appointed a school principal, named Australian of the Year for building bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. His brother Galarrwuy, received the Award in 1978
1991	Peter Hollingworth	1935		Archbishop, social justice advocate, Governor-General of Australia (2001–2003), Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane

More Information

• Australian of the Year