Ensuring kids who miss school with chronic conditions stay connected to the classroom has earned Megan Gilmour the ACT Australian of the Year nod.
The co-founder of MissingSchool, who has advocated for students to be able to learn from anywhere, picked up the award at a ceremony on Thursday night.
MissingSchool raises awareness of the educational and social needs of children who miss school through serious illness and injury, exploring how their learning can be supported through their absence from the physical classroom.
It is a personal battle for Ms Gilmour, whose own son survived a traumatic illness.
The MissingSchool campaign reached more than 14 million Australians in 2024.
Peter and Marilyn Ralston won Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT for their volunteer efforts guiding people with impaired vision and other disabilities at running efforts including the weekly parkrun.
Peter has guided blind athletes through parkruns 120 times in the past three years.
Neurodiversity advocate Daniel Bartholomaeus won Young Australian of the Year for the ACT for his motivational efforts and ability to inspire others.
Mr Bartholomaeus, 21, who has autism and ADHD, is a mentor at the neurodivergent support group The With Friends Initiative, which gives people opportunities to socialise and build connections.
He is also an artist who has used his work to bridge gaps between neurotypical and neurodiverse people.
The co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone won Local Heroes for the ACT for their efforts in empowering vulnerable members of society.
Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello's cafe employs women mostly from migrant and refugee backgrounds who might typically struggle with barriers to finding work.
Other confirmed nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year so far are child protection expert Leah Bromfield (SA), climate solutions innovator Sam Elsom (Tasmania), musician and cultural ambassador Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala (NT), motor neurone disease cure campaigner Neale Daniher (Victoria), kindness advocate Kath Koschel (NSW) and agriculture pioneers Dianne and Ian Haggerty (WA).
The winners of the national awards will be announced on January 25.
