MEDIA RELEASE
MONDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2023
2024 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES FOR NEW SOUTH WALES ANNOUNCED
Melanoma treatment pioneers, a woman saving koalas, childhood cancer heroes, the Founder of Gotcha4Life, a holocaust survivor, a slam poet and the most famous ‘mullet’ to ever run across Australia are among nominees for the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards for NSW.
The 2024 award nominees are:
2024 Australian of the Year for NSW
Maha Abdo OAM - Social worker and CEO, Muslim Women Australia (South West Sydney)
Dr Saul Griffith - Co-founder, Rewiring Australia (Austinmer)
Prof Richard Scolyer AO and Prof Georgina Long AO - Melanoma treatment pioneers (Petersham/Sydney)
Gus Worland - Media personality, mental fitness advocate and founder, Gotcha4Life Foundation (Elanora Heights)
2024 Senior Australian of the Year for NSW
Ernest Friedlander OAM - Holocaust survivor and founder, Moving Forward Together Association (Maroubra)
Tin Hta Nu - Founder, Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group (Kendall)
John Ward - Geriatrician and co-founder, Hunter Ageing Alliance (Georgetown)
2024 Young Australian of the Year for NSW
Nikhil Autar - Researcher and founder, Bheem Health (Voyager Point)
Nedd Brockmann - Runner and ambassador for people experiencing homelessness (Forbes)
Taylor Hawkins - Co-founder, Foundations for Tomorrow (Sydney)
Sara Mansour - Co-founder, Bankstown Poetry Slam (Sydney)
2024 Local Hero for NSW
Steven Fordham - Co-founder, Blackroo Community Indigenous Corporation (Muswellbrook)
Kristy Giteau - Founder, Win the Day (Googong)
Angus Olsen - Childhood cancer illustrator and author (Katoomba)
Linda Sparrow - Co-founder, Bangalow Koalas (Bangalow)
The NSW nominees are among 132 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The NSW award recipients will be announced on Monday 13 November 2023 in a ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on Thursday 25 January 2024 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the NSW nominees on their recognition.
“The nominees for the NSW awards are ordinary people doing the most extraordinary things,” said Mark.
“They demonstrate selfless giving, commitment to excellence, passion for community and leadership.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios can be viewed on the homepage of australianoftheyear.org.au.
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link: NSW Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au