Meet the Young Australian of the Year Finalists for 2023

Incredible people making a difference.

This Wednesday 25 January, the 2023 Australians of the Year will be announced. The Awards have run since 1960, recognising role models in Australia who are making waves and contributing in incredible ways in our society. Finalists are chosen from a list of nominees from each state and territory for Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Australia’s Local Hero and Young Australian of the Year.

So here are this year's nominees for this Young Australian of the Year.

Talei Elu – Community Organiser (QLD).

Talei’s experience with working with the Australian Electoral Commission inspired her to educate more Indigenous people in the importance of voting.

As a Saibari Koedal (crocodile) woman, she started initiatives in her Torres Strait Islander community of Seisa, arranging support for local women and starting a free sports equipment hire invitiative for youth.

As well as this, Talei is enthusiastic about the environment and organises regular beach clean ups.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Talei Elu 🐊 (@talei_elu)

Jahdai Vigona – First Nations Community Leader (NT).

Jahdai is a proud Tiwi Islands man passionate about giving back to his community, with a focus on delivering health programs to assist First Nations people in taking steps they need to seek help.

He explained to the ABC, ‘anyone can go into communities but it just doesn’t translate the same because we (Indigenous men) know what our people need… We want our people in these spaces’.

Jahdai is currently chair of the 2022 NT Youth Round Table and is the latest recipient of the 2022 NT Young Achiever of the Year Award.

Image: NADC/Salty Dingo

Lottie Dalziel – Founder of Banish, Sustainability Champion (New South Wales).

When Lottie realised how hard it was to find more information on recycling, it put her on her path to creating Banish – a website providing info, how-to guides, and advice on creating and maintaining a sustainable world.

Her Banish Recycling and Disposal Program (BRAD) recycled 11 tonnes of waste from 11,000 households in its first 20 months.

Kofi Owusu-Ansah – Award-Winning Performer and Songwriter (ACT).

Kofi uses his musical talents and poetry skills to create hip-hop music that highlights issues of racism and mental health.

Known as ‘Genesis’, the rapper won four ARIA Awards for his album Smiling With No Teeth. ‘I kind of unknowingly gave a voice to a lot of other people who were going through the exact same things that I was’, Genesis told the ABC.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by genesis owusu (@genesisowusu)

Awer Mabil – Professional Soccer Player, Co-Founder of Barefoot to Boots (SA).

Soccerroos star Awer grew up in a refugee camp and fled from the civil war in Sudan with his family, coming to Australia at ten years old. He recently represented Australia at World Cup, kicking a crucial penalty in the qualifying match against Peru.

His not-for-profit organisation Barefoot to Boots works to provide support for refugees through health, education and more.

Awer is driven knowing that he is a role model for young people. He is also an advocate for mental health, and is motivated to show others that they can speak up about their struggles.

Meriem Daoui – Humanitarian and Marathon Runner (TAS).

Meriem’s love for running marathons have allowed her to give back to the community. When Meriem came to Australia from Morocco, she was subject to bullying and racism just for wearing a hijab.

The support that she received through her challenging teen years inspired her to give back to her community. At 16 years old, she ran her first marathon raising over $5000 for displaced Syrians affected by their country’s civil war.

She has continued to run marathons - including the gruelling ‘Everest challenge’ – to raise money for causes close to her heart. Meriem was awarded the Peter Norman Humanitarian Award in 2021.

Darcy McGauley-Bartlett – Advocate for Indigenous Health Care in Prisons (VIC).

Proud Gunai Kurnai man Darcy has made incredible impact to ensure the health and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

‘”[It’s about] making sure our prisoners’ voices are heard and really pushing out my vision of community are community regardless – inside or out – and we need to make sure we support them,”’ Darcy told the ABC.

Darcy is currently educating young people about their education and employment options in his role as senior manager of Aboriginal Health within Corrections Victoria.

Image: NADC/Salty Dingo

Nagmeldin Bol – Athelte and Olympian (WA).

You may know him as Peter Bol – the two-time Olympian who made the Australia record for the 800 metres at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Peter recently received the Peter Norman Humanitarian Award that recognised his involvement with various charities, and is also now a coach, mentor and keynote speaker.

Last week, Peter Bol tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, although he has denied ever using any prohibited substance.

It’s no doubt that these finalists have made impactful, meaningful contributions to their communities.

If you want to see who is named Young Australian of the Year, tune into ABC TV or ABC iView Wednesday 25 January, at 7.30pm local time.

You can read more information about this year’s nominees and finalists, through the Australian of the Year website.

Header Image: National Australia Day Council