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 Dr Graham Farquhar AO. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/647100/AOTY-2018-ACT-Graham-Farquhar-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Dr Catherine Hamlin AC. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/647101/AOTY-2018-NSW-Catherine-Hamlin-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Kathy Guthadjaka. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0020/647102/AOTY-2018-NT-Kathy-Guthadjaka-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Dimity Dornan. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/647103/AOTY-2018-QLD-Dimity-Dornan-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Barbara Spriggs. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/647104/AOTY-2018-SA-Barbara-Spriggs-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Tony Scherer. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/647105/AOTY-2018-TAS-Tony-Scherer-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Paul Zimmet. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/647106/AOTY-2018-VIC-Paul-Zimmet-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Kathleen Mazzella OAM. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/647107/AOTY-2018-WA-Kathleen-Mazzella-1200w.jpg)
Young Australian of the Year
Profiling exceptional young Australians aged 16 to 30.
![Studio portrait photograph of Zack Bryers. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/647092/AOTY-2018-ACT-Zack-Bryers-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Macinley Butson. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/647093/AOTY-2018-NSW-Mckinley-Butson-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Kevin Kadirgamar. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/647094/AOTY-2018-NT-Kevin-Kadirgamar-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Phillip Thompson. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/647095/AOTY-2018-QLD-Phillip-Thompson-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Kyran Dixon. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/647096/AOTY-2018-SA-Kyran-Dixon-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Dr Jessica Manuela. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/647097/AOTY-2018-TAS-Jessica-Manuela-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Georgie Stone. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/647098/AOTY-2018-VIC-Georgie-Stone-1200w.jpg)
![Portrait photograph of Samantha Kerr. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/647099/AOTY-2018-WA-Samantha-Kerr-1200w.jpg)
Australia’s Local Hero
Acknowledging extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local community.
![Studio portrait photograph of Suzanne Tunks. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/647108/AOTY-2018-ACT-Suzanne-Tunks-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Eddie Woo. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/647109/AOTY-2018-NSW-Eddie-Woo-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Bettina Danganbarr. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/647110/AOTY-2018-NT-Bettina-Danganbarr-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Pip Russell. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0020/647111/AOTY-2018-QLD-Pip-Russell-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Andrew Costello. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/647112/AOTY-2018-SA-Andrew-Costello-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Judi Adams. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/647113/AOTY-2018-TAS-Judy-Adams-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Mat Bowtell. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/647114/AOTY-2018-VIC-Mat-Bowtell-1200w.jpg)
![Studio portrait photograph of Peter Lyndon-James. - click to view larger image](https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/647115/AOTY-2018-WA-Peter-Lyndon-James-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.