2026 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR TASMANIA ANNOUNCED
Nominees for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for Tasmania include a platypus guardian, an artist with cerebral palsy changing perceptions, a volunteer ambulance officer, a café owner changing lives, an emergency doctor and a rock singer raising funds for lifesaving cancer treatments.
The nominees are:
2026 Australian of the Year for Tasmania
Mitch McPherson - Mental health advocate (New Town)
Dr Rosie Nash - Health literacy leader (Blackmans Bay)
Tyler Richardson - Musician and fundraiser (Kingston)
Dr Jorian (Jo) Kippax - Emergency doctor (Ridgeway)
2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Tasmania
Margaret Chilcott - Volunteer ambulance officer (Poatina)
Julie Dunbabin - Nutritious eating visionary (Taroona)
Brendan Sullivan - Men’s health and wellbeing advocate (Rosny)
Adriana Taylor - Community representative (Collinsvale)
2026 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania
Reede Adams-Beckett - Youth advocate (Launceston)
Laura Johnson OAM - Mental health advocate (Smithton/Somerset
Alyssia Kennedy - Life skills educator (Heybridge)
Sahar Naqshband - Refugee mentor (New Norfolk)
2026 Local Hero for Tasmania
Emily Briffa - Social entrepreneur (West Hobart)
Janelle McMillan OAM - Disability advocate (Collinsvale)
Rodney Spinks - Community charity worker (Launceston)
Pete Walsh - Wildlife campaigner (South Hobart)
The nominees for Tasmania are among 134 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Tasmania award recipients will be announced on Tuesday 18 November 2025 in a ceremony at the Theatre Royal Hobart, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2026 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO said the nominees for the Tasmania awards reflect the many ways in which Australians are making a difference.
“The nominees for the Tasmania awards are doing extraordinary things,” said Mark.
“While they are contributing in many different ways, they are all helping. Helping people, helping communities, helping in crises, helping the environment and our wildlife, helping create opportunities and helping to bring about change.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios on the following pages and can also be viewed from australianoftheyear.org.au
Nominees have supplied photos which can be downloaded from this link: TASMANIA Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au