A pair of agriculture pioneers passionate about restoring the landscape and growing healthy food are Western Australia's 2025 Australians of the Year.
Dianne and Ian Haggerty, 58 and 59, developed modern farming techniques that do away with synthetic fertilisers, optimise water use and rebuild soils, biodiversity and landscape function.
Working with 26,000 hectares, about 300km northeast of Perth, the founders of Natural Intelligence Farming's world-leading approach has attracted global recognition.
Inventor and applied microbiologist Kieran Mulroney, paediatric anaesthetist Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg and Balladong/Wadjuk Elder and businessman Kim Collard had also been nominated for the accolade.
Co-founder of Wheelchairs For Kids, Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett was recognised as the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year for WA.
The volunteer-led charity started in 1996 has donated more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs to children in over 80 developing countries.
Brother Olly, 83, also spearheaded the development of an innovative, low-cost wheelchair design to World Health Organisation standards that grow as the children do.
WA's Young Australian of the Year is Jack Anderson, co-founder of the charity Elucidate Education, which produces educational materials and donates them to tens of thousands of students and disadvantaged schools in Australia and globally.
Mr Anderson, 24, is also a keynote speaker, documentary maker, author and Harvard University Teaching Fellow and scholarship recipient through which he is pursuing a Master of Education.
Oral medicine specialist Jacinta Vu, 44, is WA's Local Hero for her work helping domestic violence survivors.
Dr Vu as president of the Women in Dentistry Society co-founded Healing Smiles, which helps women escaping domestic violence with their oral and dental health.
It provides trauma-informed care that recognises the importance of good dental health in restoring dignity, self-esteem and confidence as victims rebuild their lives.
Other confirmed nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year so far are child protection expert Leah Bromfield (SA), climate solutions innovator Sam Elsom (Tasmania), musician and cultural ambassador Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala (Northern Territory) and Australian rules football great turned motor neurone disease cure campaigner Neale Daniher (Victoria).
The winners of the national awards will be unveiled on January 25.
