Bendigo man Darcy McGauley Bartlett named Young Victorian of the Year 2022

A community liaison officer who had a “difficult start to life” has been named Young Victorian of the Year for his work within the prison system.

A former Bendigo community liaison officer has been named the 2022 Young Victorian of the Year for his advocacy work within the prison system.

Darcy McGauley-Bartlett, a former Aboriginal community liaison officer for Victoria Police, has worked hard to change police policy to ensure fewer Indigenous people entered the justice system and didn’t stay there if they did.

The proud Gunaikurnai man had a “difficult start to life”, according to his Australian of the Year awards biography, as he grew up in a “dysfunctional environment” where he struggled as a teenager in school.

However, he was “determined to overcome his challenges” and has “emerged as a role model”.

At a ceremony on Tuesday night, the audience was told of how Mr McGauley Bartlett’s implemented Victoria’s first Aboriginal Youth Cautioning Program “to ensure all young Indigenous people are eligible for a caution when coming into contact with the justice system for the first time”.

Bendigo man Darcy McGauley-Bartlett, an advocate for Indigenous health care in prisons, has been named Young Victorian of the Year. Picture: Supplied.

The 24-year-old has also worked with Corrections Victoria to create the state’s first Aboriginal Custodial Health team, to improve health outcomes for Indigenous prisoners.

Paediatrician and co-founder of the Health Awareness Society of Australia Dr Angraj Khillan was named the 2022 Victorian Australian of the Year for his work delivering healthcare and health education to culturally diverse communities around the nation.

Sticking with the medical theme, paediatrician and Centre for Community Child Health founding director Professor Frank Oberklaid AM received the award of 2023 Victoria Senior Australian of the Year, while Sassafras woman Belinda Young was named the 2023 Victoria Local Hero for founding the Mums of the Hills Facebook group to help mothers connect online and face-to-face in the Yarra and Dandenong ranges.

National Australia Day Council chief executive Karlie Brand congratulated the award recipients from Victoria.

“The Victorian award recipients show inspirational leadership and care for others,” said Ms Brand.

“We look forward to welcoming them to Canberra for the national Australian of the Year Awards to be announced on 25 January 2023.”