Each year, the Australian of the Year Awards honour an exceptional group of highly respected Australians who ignite discussion and change on issues of national importance.
Senior Australian of the Year
Rewarding Australians aged 65 and over who continue to achieve and contribute.
![Studio portrait photograph of Dick Telford. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/632553/AOTY-2017-ACT-Dick-Telford-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Dr John Knight AM. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/632554/AOTY-2017-NSW-John-Knight-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Sister Anne Gardiner AM, - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/632555/AOTY-2017-NT-Sister-Anne-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Perry F Bartlett. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/632556/AOTY-2017-QLD-Perry-Bartlett-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Patricia Buckskin. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/632557/AOTY-SA-2017-Patricia-Buckskin-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Margaret Steadman. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/632558/AOTY-2017-TAS-Margaret-Steadman-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Lois Peeler AM. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/632559/AOTY-2017-VIC-Lois-Peeler-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Peter Kenyon. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/632560/AOTY-2017-WA-Peter-Kenyon-1200w.jpg)
Young Australian of the Year
Profiling exceptional young Australians aged 16 to 30.
![Studio portrait photograph of Heidi Prowse. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/632545/AOTY-2017-ACT-Heidi-Prowse-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Arthur Alla. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/632546/AOTY-2017-NSW-Arthur-Alla-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Bridie Duggan. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/632547/AOTY-2017-NT-Bridie-Duggan-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Taj Pabari. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/632548/AOTY-2017-QLD-Taj-Pabari-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Paul Vasileff. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/632549/AOTY-2017-SA-Paul-Vasileff-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Mitch McPherson. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/632550/AOTY-2017-TAS-Mitch-McPherson-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Jason Ball. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/632551/AOTY-2017-VIC-Jason-Bell-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Abdullahi Alim. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/632552/AOTY-2017-WA-Abudullahi-Alim-1200w.jpg)
Australia’s Local Hero
Acknowledging extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local community.
![Studio portrait photograph of Stasia Dabrowski OAM. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/632561/AOTY-2017-ACT-Stasia-Dabrowski-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Josephine Peter. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/632562/AOTY-2017-NSW-Josphine-Peter-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Tejinder pal Singh. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/632563/AOTY-2017-NT-Tejinder-pal-Singh-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Yasmin Khan. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/632564/AOTY-2017-QLD-Yasmin-Khan-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Reginald George Heading. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/632565/AOTY-2017-SA-George-Heading-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Anthony Edler. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/632566/AOTY-2017-TAS-Anthony-Edler-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Vicki Jellie. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/632567/AOTY-2017-VIC-Vicki-Jellie-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of June Oscar AO. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/632568/AOTY-2017-WA-June-Oscar-1200w.jpg)
How are the winners chosen?
The awards operate in several stages. They start at the community level, with nominations being invited from the public. State and territory selection panels choose finalists in each of the four award categories, announced from October to November each year.
The final stage is when the board of the National Australia Day Council chooses the national recipients, announced on the eve of Australia Day each year.