Hero medic Dr Jo Kippax who saved rafter in Franklin River named Tasmanian of the Year

A doctor who amputated a man’s leg underwater to save him, a pioneer of Tassie school lunch systems and a life skill educator have all been named as Australian of the Year winners for Tasmania. THE WINNERS >>

Hamlet Inc. chief executive and founder Emily Briffa with (L-R) chef Carlin Peterswald, participants James Mackey, Keelan Law and Lachlan Millner in the new kitchen. Emily Briffa was named the 2026 Local Hero for Tasmania. Picture: Chris Kidd

A Tasmanian emergency doctor who performed a lifesaving amputation to free a Lithuanian rafter from the freezing waters of the Franklin River has been named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Tasmania.

Dr Jo Kippax was part of a specialist team of rescuers tasked to free the Lithuanian whitewater rafter Valdas Bieliauskas who was trapped in perilous rapids on the Franklin River in 2024.

Ambulance Tasmania's Adam Marmion and Dr Jo Kippax (middle) with the critically injured Lithuanian kayaker who was winched from Franklin River and had his leg amputated. Picture: File

He accepted his award at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening.

It’s not the first award Dr Kippax has received for the remarkable rescue, with the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda awarding the country’s Life Saving Cross award to Jo, which he humbly accepted on behalf of his team.

The rescue of Valdas is just one chapter in Jo’s long career in emergency medicine, disaster response, and search and rescue.

Pioneer of school nutrition in Tasmania, Julie Dunbabin was named as the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Tasmania.

Dunbabin, 65, is the School Lunch Project Manager at the non-government organisation School Food Matters and was the executive officer for the Tasmanian School Canteen Association.

Former Tasmanian Schools Canteen Association executive officer Julie Dunbabin alongside grade 5 students from Richmond Primary School Henry Strutt, 10 and Ebony Scott, 10 taking part in making a vegie garden so they can grow their own produce for healthy lunches. Picture: Zak Simmonds

She is focused on changing the way education departments and schools prepare and deliver school lunches to children.

She shared that her vision is for all schoolchildren to receive a nutritious, sit-down meal every day, prepared from scratch in a school or central kitchen, using seasonal, local produce.

The School Lunch Program prepares 14,332 school lunches for 6656 students every week. The program, which started initially with three schools, is expected to expand to 60 schools in 2026.

Founder of the Life After School program, Alyssia Kennedy was announced as the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania for her work in life skills education.

Ms Kennedy was inspired to improve life skills education after leaving school and realising she lacked many of the skills needed to manage day-to-day life, such as how to create a budget or do her taxes.

In the hopes of helping others form ‘learning the hard way’, the 29-year-old founded the Life After School program, an educational package to help bridge the gap between school education and life knowledge.

Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania Alyssia Kennedy. Picture: supplied

She now works with schools and youth groups to deliver the program and give young people the tools they need to transition to adulthood.

Ms Kennedy was also chosen as a 2025 ABC Trailblazer for her Life After School Program, which recognises innovative solutions for young people in regional Australia, giving Alyssia the opportunity to present her ideas to policymakers in Canberra.

Finally, the 2026 Local Hero for Tasmania went to social entrepreneur Emily Briffa.

Emily Briffa’s social enterprise Hamlet has helped many disadvantaged and marginalised people in Hobart overcome employment barriers and transform their lives.

Hamlet is a community café that provides individualised training, work readiness and wraparound support to Tasmanians with disability, neurodivergence, and mental health concerns who are experiencing barriers to employment.

Since its inception, Hamlet has helped more than 700 people gain experience to enter the job market and given them valuable skills and training.

Hamlet Inc. CEO and founder Emily Briffa with training participants Keith Kwok (LHS) and Kara Ainsworth (RHS). Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms Briffa, 36, has continued to expand Hamlet’s operations, creating more job opportunities in a variety of catering and hospitality roles.

The cafe now boasts an impressive 75 per cent employment placement rate for people who complete its training programs.

All of the Tasmanian recipients will join other state and territory award winners for the national awards to be announced on January 25 next year.

National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the award recipients for Tasmania.

“Jo’s longtime dedication has saved many lives; Julie is creating healthier futures for our children; Alyssia is ensuring our young people are better equipped for life after school; and Emily has created a safe and welcoming space for marginalised people to find their feet,” Mr Fraser said.