The NSW Australian of the Year Awards for 2026 have celebrated four remarkable individuals whose work spans disaster relief, dementia care, homelessness advocacy and grassroots compassion. The announcement took place at The Calyx in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, with Premier Chris Minns commending the recipients for their passion and service.
Dr Alison Thompson OAM, named NSW Australian of the Year, has spent more than two decades on the frontlines of global disaster zones, leading efforts that have reached over 18 million people. From New York’s Ground Zero to Sri Lanka’s tsunami-hit coastlines, she’s built a movement of 30,000 volunteers under the banner of Third Wave Volunteers. What began with a simple act of help on 11 September 2001 has since become a global network of first responders who bring aid and hope to those in crisis.
The Premier said Dr Thompson’s “leadership and compassion are an inspiration to so many”, noting that her story reflects the difference one person can make when driven by purpose and empathy.
NSW’s Senior Australian of the Year, Professor Henry Brodaty AO, has reshaped how dementia is understood, diagnosed and managed. Motivated by his father’s early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the 1970s, Professor Brodaty has spent his career improving the lives of those affected by the disease. His research has led to new approaches for prevention and care, and his “Maintain Your Brain” program demonstrated how targeted, affordable interventions can delay or even prevent dementia.
Professor Brodaty co-founded the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing in 2012, helping establish Australia as a global leader in brain health research. His decades of work have given families hope and patients greater dignity in care.
The Young Australian of the Year, Nedd Brockmann, has become a familiar name across Australia for his endurance and his empathy. The 26-year-old electrician from Forbes ran nearly 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Bondi in 2022, raising millions to support people experiencing homelessness. His run captured the nation’s imagination, not only for its physical challenge but for its purpose — to show that homelessness is a problem that can be tackled with awareness, support and action.
Through his ongoing campaigns and partnerships with charities such as Mobilise, Brockmann has helped raise more than $8 million to create practical programs for those sleeping rough. His message remains simple: doing something uncomfortable can lead to real change.
Rounding out the 2026 honours, Theresa Mitchell from Banora Point was named NSW Local Hero. Through Agape Outreach Inc, which she founded in 2009, Mitchell has built a community network that feeds and supports vulnerable people across the Northern Rivers and the Gold Coast. What started with her cooking meals in her kitchen has grown into an organisation with over 300 volunteers providing 1,500 hot meals each week, along with training, counselling and other services that help people rebuild their lives.
Mitchell’s commitment extends beyond her organisation — she has fostered 37 children and continues to be a voice for those often overlooked. Agape, meaning unconditional love, reflects the heart of her work and the community she has built.
All four NSW recipients will now represent the state at the national Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra on 25 January 2026.
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