Inspirational.Australians by Awards Australia Podcast

Laura Byrnes is a Late Models Motorsport competitor in Speedway Motorsport (oval track dirt racing) for Red Shamrock Racing. She has been competing in motorsport for the past 15 years and in the 2020/21 race season, moved into Late Model racing - the pinnacle of sedan dirt track racing. Despite being only in her first season, Laura was Rookie of the Year Championship for the Pro Dirt Series, finis...

Born and raised in Hobart, where I lived for the first 31 years of my life. In college (grade 11) I got into radio after starting my journalism studies and was offered a radio show on the spot after my first shift as part of our class schedule. That role grew, was at Edge Radio in Hobart for 11 years. Through that I interviewed numerous prominent people from Prince Charles to Prime Minister Julia...

Karmin Poulish is an apprentice at Hentley Farm Restaurant. Karmin experienced mental health issues and bullying that led to her transfer to St. Patrick’s Technical College, where she completed SACE and Certificate II in Cookery. She has completed extra work experience in the hospitality industry, a Beginner’s Cake Decorating Course, and Le Cordon Blue’s French Breakfast Pastry Course and Career R...

Shane Cook is dedicated to giving back to the community. A proud Wulli Wulli and Guwa descendant, Shane successfully juggles being an artist and a youth mentor. He runs Street Dreamz, a business that handles both spontaneous and scheduled art projects and provides mentoring by encouraging cultural exploration, expression of emotions without words and the processing of complex feelings. Shane is a...

Jahin Tanvir is passionately action-oriented. Jahin was selected as one of ten “Young Leaders” in Australia and represented ACT at the Consumers Health Forum; which helped raise awareness of youth health issues and develop resources to help the youth better navigate the healthcare system. In 2021, Jahin received the 2021 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year in Individual Community Service. He volunt...

Jack Anderson founded ThrivEd, where he brought together talented writers to author Year 12 textbooks. The proceeds from every two sales are used to produce a third textbook for students who would benefit from the same resource. He has led this organisation to publish two Chemistry textbooks so far and is working to publish another 6 textbooks over the next year with their 20 writing volunteers. J...

Andrew Bannister was born with rare brain malfunctions, including Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia (PVNH), but these have not stopped him from achieving many things. Inspired by the story of Ella, whose mother organised to light up the Perth Bell Tower in 2018 after Ella died of PVNH, Andrew decided that he would organise to light up more locations to bring awareness to the condition, and later...

Kohbi Barrow, still 11 years old has been volunteering since he was 6. From volunteering to coach and referee games for under 8 soccer to volunteering at FeNaCLe Festival he enjoys getting involved. He has researched, written and delivered RUOK speeches to hundreds of adults at Rio Tinto and FMG mine sites. He has raised money for the Hedland Cancer Support Group and Dolly’s Dream and continues to...

Dr Trudy Lin is one of only five registered specialists in Special Needs Dentistry in South Australia, providing oral healthcare to people affected by disability, psychiatric illnesses, and complex medical issues. A graduate of Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Trudy started working in the Special needs unit of the Adelaide Dental Hospital in 2016. She completed her Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Speci...

Raw Strength Tasmania is providing affordable, top-quality training to athletes, especially the disabled, aged and disadvantaged people. Raw Strength Tasmania has provided the pathway for drug-free strength within Tasmania. They ran a not-for-profit event, where they flew Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to test the competitors, and have since run 12 events. They have run the only P...

"I’m Bryony I am 21 years old, I live in Waikiki and I am a professional Muay Thai Fighter. I have been doing Muay Thai for a short amount of time 3.5 years and of that 2.5 years of fighting I have achieved 11 fights. I have won gold at the Nationals Muay Thai Australia in 2019, bronze in 2020 and have fought in Thailand. In this short amount of time I have made a massive name for myself in the Mu...

Nicole is proud and passionate about sharing First Nation culture and is a proud Indigenous woman of Larrakia/Malak Malak descent. Her passion is breaking down Indigenous barriers with her vast knowledge and skills through Indigenous Engagement Consulting. Nicole works for the Northern Land Council and also runs her own consultancy. She is the Deputy Chairperson of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal C...

"My name is Renee Knapp and I am an independent consultant working with people to make effective change through positive action in the areas of student behaviour, mental health and wellbeing and community approaches to mental health. I have over 20 years experience in Education as a Level 3 Classroom Teacher and as a Deputy Principal. I was one of 3 finalists in the 2019 Regional Community & Achie...

I am an American by birth but Australian by heart. I moved to Australia in 2012 only one week after graduating University. I originally came to Oz to play basketball - I played in Perth, Darwin, the Gold Coast. I even lived in NZ for a brief period of time when I over-stayed my visa. But as Territorians say, you'll be back...you always come back to Darwin. And it's true. I got married and started...

Ben is passionate about multiculturalism, youth empowerment, community engagement and international education. During his studies, Ben held representative office, as the 2019 President of the CDU Students’ Association and the Undergraduate Representative (Board Member) on the CDU Council. Until recently, Ben was the Student Representative (Board Member) in the NT International Education and Traini...

In this week’s episode, Josh is talking to Zac Cannell who was a Finalist in the 2017 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for South Australia. Zac Cannell is a Sexual Health Counsellor for SHINE SA and has over a decade of experience working with young people, particularly in the areas of mental health, sexual health and human rights advocacy. He is a Master Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor...

Maurice is providing a digital space where people are appreciated. After teaching himself how to code and develop digital platforms, Maurice developed JuJu (Jujuapp.io), an app that is transforming the way a business thinks about its reward and recognitions by tapping into a fundamental truth – employees have a need to be appreciated for their contributions at work. Maurice has developed a systema...

I am granddaughter of respected Elder and sheller, Aunty Gloria Templar, descendants of the Trawlwoolway and Plangermaireener people of Lutruwita whom of which were taken to Flinders Island, and Cape Barren where my grandmother was raised. I am known for my activism and continuation of cultural knowledge and practices. Despite the adversary i have faced with having a disability, mental health cond...

Bree & Alicia are creating an accessible platform that enhances food experiences. They have both co-founded WIRL, a social enterprise that helps women create time, energy and brain space by re-teaching them how to eat. The aim is for users to worry less about food, health and their bodies, and spend more time doing things they love. WIRL focuses on intuitive eating that has positive physical and m...

Dr. Manuela grew up in southern Tasmania. Her father is from the Cook Islands and her mother has Launceston Aboriginal heritage. So she has a particular passion for working closely with Tasmanian Indigenous communities. With the support of the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania, Dr. Manuela has developed a specific program for Indigenous Tasman...

My name Is Dean Morris, I am 17 years old. Over six years ago, I started a campaign called GOSAC which stands for Give Our Strays A Chance. It is about raising awareness of adopting and donating to animal shelters. I am raising donations for animal rescue groups in Perth and GOSAC has truly made a difference. Many poor strays have been saved and thousands of dollars were raised to pay for vet, foo...

My name is Heather Baird, and I founded A Better Life for Foster Kids in 2014. I would like to tell you the story of why I went down the path of helping foster children. From the age of 2 ½, I lived in orphanages and many different foster homes. Once l left the homes at the age of 17, it was a real struggle to fit into the world. I knew almost nothing of the outside, normal world, and the easiest...

Gabriel ‘DyspOra’ Akon is an award-winning Hip-Hop recording Artist, Sonic Activist, Poet & founder of the playback 808 Kingdom. The nomadic troubadour was born in South Sudan and raised across various locations in East Africa until his family migrated to the South Australian city of Adelaide. After spending his formative years in a Refugee camp in Kenya, DyspOra saw music as a key tool in breakin...

Adie Delaney is committed to creating new solutions to old problems. Adie left a career as trapeze artist in Europe and opened The Circus Studio to bring the joy and benefits of learning circus and has created a three-year curriculum to teach children circus skills. She started working at the Sexual Assault Support Service, engaging young people in conversations about consent and positive intimate...

A death in our near family has meant that we are unable to get an Episode to you this week. Thank you for your understanding. From, Geoff, Annette and Josh See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.