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Who is the Australian of the Year for 2025?

Australian of the Year Winner at the Aus Open 2025
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Neale Daniher, former AFL player and the Australian of the Year, attends prior to the Men's Singles Final between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Alexander Zverev of Germany during day 15 of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

One of the highlights for many Australians at the start of the year is crowning The Australian of the Year winner.

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There was a slew of incredible individuals nominated — find the full list of nominees here — but there can only be one winner.

So who won the national title? Read on to find out…

What is the Australian of the Year Awards?

The Australian of the Year Awards began in the 1960s, as a way for the nation to celebrate notable Australians who are role models to all of us. It is held every year on 25 January, on the eve of Australia Day.

There are four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Local Hero.

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Previous winners on the roster include Olympian Emma McKeon AM (Young Australian of the Year 2024), Paralympian Dylan Alcott AO (Australian of the Year 2022), activist Grace Tame (Australian of the Year 2021), tennis champion Ash Barty AO (Young Australian of the Year 2020), and family violence campaigner Rosie Batty (Australian of the Year 2015) just to name a few.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Amar Singh, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Taryn Brumfitt and Professor Tom Calma AO pose for a group photo at the 2023 Australian of the Year Awards at the National Arboretum on January 25, 2023 in Canberra, Australia. The Australian of the Year is a national award given to an Australian citizen by the National Australia Day Council. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Who was nominated for the Australian of the Year 2025?

Every year, each state and territory names its own Australian of the Year. Four people are nominated per state or territory and the winner is chosen from those four. Those winners then go in the running for the title of Australian of the Year.

In 2025, the state and territory winners are:

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Northern Territory:

The Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory is Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala. The internationally acclaimed musician and cultural leader in Arnhem Land’s Numbulwar community also started the Numburindi Festival.

South Australia:

The Australian of the Year for South Australia is Professor Leah Bromfield, the director and chair of child protection at the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

Tasmania:

Sam Elsom is the Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2025. Sam’s start-up Sea Forest has dramatically reduced methane emissions and was a finalist for the Earthshot Prize in 2021.

Victoria:

Neale Daniher AO is the Victorian winner, and (spoiler alert) he won Australian of the Year in 2025! More on the former Australian rules player below.

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Western Australia:

It was a double-win in WA as the 2025 Australians of the Year for Western Australia are agriculture pioneers Dianne and Ian Haggerty.

New South Wales:

The NSW Australian of the Year for 2025 is the founder of the Kindness Factory, Kath Koschel. Kathovercame many challenges to bring kindness to the world. Read our interview with her here.

Australian of the Year Winner 2025, Neale Daniher
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 14: Neale Daniher looks on during the Big Freeze slide at Melbourne Cricket Grou (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Who is Australian of the Year 2025?

As aforementioned, the overall Australian of the Year 2025 is Neale Daniher AO.

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The 63-year-old former AFL player (for Essendon FC), is a co-founder of FightMND Foundation, a charity to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND). The disease is a progressive disease that takes away one’s muscle control by affecting the motor neurons. This includes one’s ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe. To date, Neale’s charity has raised and invested over $100 million into medical research in Australia. Furthermore, there is currently no treatment or cure for the disease.

Doctors diagnosed Neale with MND in 2013, since then, he has been battling the disease and has continuously campaigned for a cure.

Incredibly, Neale has defied the odds and smashed the life expectancy of the disease, normally 27 months. Furthermore, he has dedicated his life to bringing hope to those living with MND and preventing the suffering of those who develop the disease in the future.

“Having no hope is devastating. We wanted to change that narrative,” Neale said in a video after his Victorian Australia of the Year 2025 win. ” We want to give those diagnosed hope. Our mission is a world without MND, until then we hope the community continues the fight with us.”

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Congratulations Neale!

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