Alumni News

Play on, says Neale
As a footy legend and fighter of motor neurone disease – a battle that he has determinedly fought for 10 years and counting – 2025 Australian of the Year Neale Daniher AO had many life lessons to share at Auspire’s latest Inspiring Australians event. Read more.
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Claire and 43 carolling magpies

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The first sound 2025 QLD Local Hero Claire Smith heard when she landed in Australia from the United Kingdom was the carolling song of a nearby magpie. That was enough to make her fall in love with Australian wildlife.
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Martha and the police officer who cried

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2025 NSW Local Hero Martha Jabour is someone who has lived through the worst possible day for a parent. Having trained as a grief and trauma counsellor, her work with grieving parents saw her tapped on the shoulder to start a Homicide Victims Support Group.

2025 WACOSS Community Services Excellence Awards

Congratulations to 2025 WA Local Hero Dr Jacinta Vu and 2022 WA Local Hero Craig Hollywood! Healing Smiles took home the Trailblazing Small Organisation: Catalysts of Community Innovation award, and Craig received the award for Outstanding Contribution: Going Above and Beyond, for his work through Short Back & Sidewalks. Your dedication and impact continue to make a difference and inspire us all!

Read more about Jacinta's work with Healing Smiles

The poker-playing cardiologist

As a junior doctor working in remote communities, Dr Bo Remenyi was tasked with filling out death certificates for children dying of preventable heart disease. Finding this unfair and unacceptable, Bo spent a further six years studying to become one of Australia’s first female paediatric cardiologists. But her path to being named 2018 NT Australian of the Year has been filled with unexpected twists and risks.

Listen on ABC Conversations
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Photo of George Petrou OAM with portrait of Daniel Nour

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The Art of Humanity

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Some of our Australians of the Year have been included in a new book, The Art of Humanity. It showcases portraits and stories of remarkable Australians who care for those in need. Amar Singh, Dr Daniel Nour, Nic Marchesi OAM and Lucas Patchett OAM, Valmai Dempsey OAM, Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop AC CMG OBE and Professor Tom Calma AO are all featured.
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Recipients added to ACT Women's Honour Roll

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Congratulations to Australia's Local Heroes Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, 2025 ACT co-Senior Australian of the Year Marilyn Ralston (pictured) and 2025 ACT Australian of the Year Megan Gilmour who were all added to the 2025 ACT Women's Honour Roll. The Roll acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievements of women in Canberra.

Dr Dinesh redefines possibility

In a world-first achievement, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM became the first person with quadriplegia to climb Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. With every meter climbed, he pushed the boundaries of what’s considered possible—not just for himself, but for every person living with disability. It's also a world-first accessible bridge climb experience, well done, Brissy. “I think by showcasing activities like this, society can see what people with disability are capable of. If someone can climb a bridge, what is stopping someone from accessing education or employment?” said Dinesh.

Learn more about Dinesh

A sciencey memoir...

He became one of the world's favourite scientific storytellers. Congratulations to 2025 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM. His memoir, A Periodic Tale, has been shortlisted for Biography of the Year at the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards!

Learn more about Dr Karl's memoir
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Megan Gilmour addresses room

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School Absence Talks

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2025 ACT Australian of the Year Megan Gilmour's MissingSchool hosted a landmark event at Parliament House to launch their 2025 campaign. Fifteen children’s health organisations shared lived experience vignettes at the intersection of education, health and disability. A lineup of MPs have voiced their support for sustainable solutions to chronic school absence.
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Dr Karl pictured with Sam Elsom

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Shirtloads of Science with Sam

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Atmospheric Carbon is burning us up. CO₂ is the big culprit but what about methane? Australian scientists have a very cool answer with seaweed. Dr Karl sat down with 2025 Tasmanian Australian of the Year Sam Elsom, founder of Sea Forest, to explain the science.

WOMEN IN SPORT 

The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation's International Women's Day event discussed ways to engage the next generation of women and girls in sport. 

2025 VIC Local Hero Jasmine Hirst was one of the panellists. Over the last 15 years, Jasmine has given hundreds of girls and women the opportunity to play soccer.

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Brother Olly honoured in art

West Australian Society of Arts held their 129th Annual Art Exhibition. 2025 Senior Australian of the Year Brother Olly Pickett AM sat for a live portrait paining for artist Jenny Davies. Their unique live event, Portraits in Giving, featured talented artists each painting portraits of local volunteers. Brother Olly was the perfect subject.

Read more about Brother Olly

Sam's visit to the UK

2025 TAS Australian of the Year Sam Elsom met with Her Excellency Elizabeth Bowes at the Australian High Commission in London (she helped broker Australia’s free trade agreement with the UK). The commercialisation of Sam's work in the UK and the exciting opportunities it represents for UK agricultures 2030 targets is supported by this agreement and will soon be supplied to farmers of UK supermarket Morrisons.

Read about Sam's work

Harmony Week

Auspire hosted a Lunch with Leaders with the 2025 Australia's Local Heroes, who emulate inclusion, respect and empowerment.

Founders of Cafe Stepping Stone Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello share how they've created a community that provides security, skills and a sense of belonging to migrant and refugee women.

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Grief and resilience

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2017 ACT Young Australian of the Year Heidi Prowse has done amazing things for Cystic Fibrosis ACT after her husband was personally affected by the debilitating disease. Now, Heidi has written and published a beautiful, personal book about grief and resilience, called We Should Have Grown Old Together.
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Keren attends Tasmanian citizenship ceremony

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2025 TAS Local Hero Keren Franks was guest speaker at a citizenship ceremony in Tasmania recently. Pictured here with Senator Carol Brown, Keren weaved her personal story into the broader themes of citizenship and being active members of your community.

Special guests at Cafe Stepping Stone

Cafe Stepping Stone, the social enterprise founded by 2025 Local Heroes Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, received some special visitors recently. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped by with fiancé Jodie to meet the staff and learn more. We're told Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC has also visited the cafe of late, along with visiting 2025 WA Local Hero Dr Jacinta Vu at her Perth Healing Smiles clinic. She also visited 2025 Australians of the Year for Western Australia, farming pioneers Dianne and Ian Haggerty.

See the Governor General's WA visit to Healing Smiles

TURBANS 4 AUSTRALIA IN LA

2023 Local Hero Amar Singh has brought his incredible Turbans 4 Australia charity to Los Angeles. 

As communities pick up the pieces after devastating wildfires, Amar and his team are selflessly handing out free meals to victims of the disaster, showing the true spirit of Australian generosity.

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"too outspoken"

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Throughout her career, 2019 ACT Australian of the Year Virginia Haussegger AM has faced unforgettable moments, from sparking media firestorms with her columns to navigating criticism for being "too outspoken". Hear her thoughts on this podcast...
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"too passionate"

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Another episode on the Too Much by Future Women podcast features 2024 joint-Australian of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO. She opens up about her life as a scientist who’s been told she’s “too passionate” one too many times.

Alumni in Australia Day Honours

Some of our alumni were recognised in the Australia Day Honours 2025 list appointed by the Governor-General of Australia: - 1978 Australian of the Year, the late Galarrwuy Yunupingu AC - 2022 Senior Australian of the Year Valmai Dempsey OAM - 2023 WA Australian of the Year Professor Samar Aoun AM - 2022 QLD Local Hero Saba Abraham OAM - 2022 WA Senior Australian of the Year, Jan Standen OAM - 2022 WA Young Australian of the Year Kendall Whyte OAM - 2022 Australia's Local Hero Shanna Whan AM

Understand the four levels of the awards