Decades of providing health services to migrants and refugees has won a doctor the ACT's 2026 Australian of the Year honour.
Professor Rose McGready has dedicated her life to treating people on the Thai-Myanmar border, arriving there as a young doctor to discover refugees fleeing persecution had difficulty accessing health care.
She established training for local staff to focus on services for expectant mothers and those in childbirth, with clinics and outpatient services saving thousands of lives and her research also leading to the development of new treatments for maternal malaria.
The Dr Rose McGready Foundation was established in 2022 as a registered charity to support her ongoing work.
Heather Reid AM is the territory's 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for 2026 for her work helping thousands of women play soccer across the nation.
The football pioneer established the Australian National University Women's Soccer Club in 1978, and became the first female chief executive of Capital Football in 2004.
Ms Reid set up the Heather Reid AM Bursary to help pay the registration fees of players in need, ensuring financial hardship was no barrier to participation, while mentoring players and coaches.
The ACT's Young Australian of the Year is Sita Sargeant, founder of historical tourism company and social enterprise She Shapes History.
Ms Sargeant is dedicated to telling the stories of overlooked women who have shaped Australia through walking tours, digital content and partnerships with cultural institutions.
Ben Alexander is the 2026 Local Hero for the ACT, a former rugby player for the Brumbies and Wallabies who has since founded Running for Resilience alongside Matt Breen to tackle suicide.
The mental health advocate helps people overcome struggles by facilitating connection, with hundreds joining free runs and walks across the city.
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