Sixteen people honoured as finalists for NT Australian of the Year

NT Australian of Year for 2022 has named sixteen finalists across four categories, honouring locals from a wide range of industries.

SIXTEEN Territorians have been honoured as finalists in the 2022 Northern Territory Australian of the Year awards. The finalists were announced on Tuesday morning across four categories including NT Local Hero, Young Australian, Senior Australian and Australian of the Year.

This year’s finalists come from a range of industries and professions and include a therapy dog specialist, an esteemed teacher and healer, Aboriginal health and justice advocates, a veteran helping others with mental health challenges, an LGBTQ+ advocate and a health specialist helping Timor Leste communities.

The 2022 Northern Territory award nominees are:

Northern Territory Australian of the Year

• Dr Joshua Francis – Paediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and researcher (Nakara)
• Olga Havnen – Advocate for Aboriginal Australians (Darwin)
• Leanne Liddle – Director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit (Darwin)
• Kwame Selormey – CEO of Melaleuca Australia, community services leader (Darwin)

Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year

• Kyle Bambra – Indigenous mentor (Darwin)
• Sizolwenkosi Fuyana – Businesswoman, podcaster and youth advocate (Palmerston)
• Paige Horrigan – LGBTQ+ youth leader and advocate (Palmerston)
• Emma Warren – Life coach and business owner (Anula)

Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year

• Robyne Burridge OAM – Disability services advocate and Founder of Focus-A-Bility (Darwin)
• Bishop Daniel Eugene Hurley AM – Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin (Darwin)
• Bilawara Lee – Elder, teacher, healer, academic-in-residence (Darwin)
• Kathleen Short OAM – Community volunteer, arts and craft steward (Darwin)

Northern Territory Local Hero

• Rebecca Forrest – Event organiser and fundraiser (Darwin)
• Shaun Tatipata – Founding Director of Deadly Enterprises (Darwin)
• Kristy Teunissen – Dog trainer, therapy dog provider (Zuccoli)
• Paul Walker – Veteran, mental health speaker and photographer (Katherine)

The nominees are among 129 people being recognised across all states and territories as part of the program, which began in 1960. The four award recipients from the Northern Territory will be announced on the evening of Monday 1 November 2021 in a ceremony at the Darwin Convention Centre which will also be available to watch online via livestream.

They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2022.