MEDIA RELEASE
MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2025
2026 AUSTRALIANS OF THE YEAR FOR NORTHERN TERRITORY ANNOUNCED
2026 Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory - Dr Felix Ho ASM (Darwin)
2026 Senior Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory - Jenny Duggan (Katherine)
2026 Young Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory - Jaiden Dickenson (Tennant Creek)
2026 Local Hero for the Northern Territory - Ron Green BM ESM (Katherine)
Awards event livestreamed via australianoftheyear.org.au
The 2026 Australian of the Year Award recipients for the Northern Territory have been announced at a ceremony in Darwin this evening.
The four Northern Territory recipients will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards to be announced on 25 January 2026.
The 2026 Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory is volunteer paramedic and youth program builder Dr Felix Ho ASM.
Dr Felix Ho tirelessly serves remote communities in the Northern Territory as a medical practitioner. But for Felix, that’s not enough – he also volunteers thousands of his hours building the St John Youth Program and helps at public events as a St John first responder.
Since joining as a St John cadet in 1995 at the age of 13, Felix has faithfully served others, including overseas as an Intensive Care Paramedic on a United Nations mission to Timor-Leste.
In 2020, he took on national leadership of the youth portfolio for St John Ambulance Australia, where he’s a guiding force for over 3,000 young people, equipping the next generation of first responders. Aligned with clinical standards, Felix developed interactive, accessible and engaging training for youth and cadets across Australia.
Now 43, Felix brings people together across geography and generations, to equip Australia’s youth to save lives through first aid in an emergency.
Environmental warrior, Jenny Duggan, is the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory.
For decades, Jenny Duggan has shown extraordinary grassroots leadership as Katherine’s ‘rubbish warrior’, quietly transforming the landscape and community spirit of her town.
Each morning 67-year-old Jenny walks the banks of the Katherine River to remove litter. In collecting hundreds of kilograms of rubbish, she’s put the spotlight on environmental safety.
To reduce the danger of broken glass in public spaces, Jenny advocated for the Katherine Liquor Accord’s move to plastic wine bottles. She’s also a force behind Katherine's Neighbourhood Watch – all part of her drive to make Katherine safer for everyone.
Jenny supports community members experiencing hardship through her volunteer work with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Here Jenny serves on the management committee of Ormonde House, which provides housing for men in need, and on the management committee for Katherine’s Vinnies store.
In her daily, humble, practical service, Jenny exemplifies community care in action.
The 2026 Young Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory is Indigenous community leader Jaiden Dickenson.
Proud Warumungu man Jaiden Dickenson is a beacon of hope and resilience for young people in the Tennant Creek, Ali Curung and Elliott communities.
In his role as a Tennant Creek Mob Youth Diversion Officer, 18-year-old Jaiden helps young people address the trauma at the root of crime and social disorder by taking responsibility for their behaviour, overcoming their personal challenges and moving towards rehabilitation.
Jaiden’s approach is grounded in empathy, cultural understanding and the belief that every young person needs someone to believe in them. His work has led to a significant reduction in the number of youth re-offending and supported engagement in more positive pathways.
In mentoring young people, Jaiden’s influence has created a ripple effect, empowering other young people to also take up roles as mentors within the Tennant Creek Mob.
Emergency services and St John Ambulance volunteer Ron Green BM ESM is the 2026 Local Hero for the Northern Territory.
Local legend Ron Green has volunteered hundreds of hours keeping his community safe in times of crisis.
Since 2005, he’s grown and strengthened the success of the Katherine Volunteer Unit of the Northern Territory Emergency Service. Ron, 50, also fights bushfires and attends vehicle crashes as a volunteer for the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service. On top of this, he leads the Katherine Youth Division of
St John Ambulance, where he inspires and trains future generations of emergency first responders.
Ron’s exceptional bravery in an emergency extends wherever he’s needed. In 2019, Ron fought bushfires across the southern states, and in 2025 he helped Queenslanders recover from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Ron’s courage was demonstrated outside his home in 2016 when, despite significant personal danger, Ron and his pregnant wife Deslie intervened to protect a woman threatened by a knife-wielding man. At the time, Ron and Deslie’s three children were sleeping inside.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the Northern Territory award recipients.
“Felix is sharing his skills and knowledge to save lives; Jenny shows the impact one can have for a community; Jaiden is leading by example and empathy; and Ron is the essence of a local hero,” said Mark.
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards, visit australianoftheyear.org.au.
ENDS.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne on 0414 673 762 / nicole@mediaopps.com.au
PHOTOS: From the awards announcement event can be downloaded from this link (credit NADC/Salty Dingo):