32 great Aussies vying for national honours

Who will it be for 2020?: 2019 Australian of the Year award winners. Photo: Salty Dingo

The everyday people in the running for the 60th Anniversary Australian of the Year Awards have now been announced by the National Australia Day Council.

Award recipients in each state and territory have been announced over the past month and are now in consideration for the 2020 Australian of the Year Awards, to be presented at the National Arboretum in Canberra on the evening of Saturday January 25, 2020.

There are 32 people in contention for four award categories:

2020 Australian of the Year
2020 Senior Australian of the Year
2020 Young Australian of the Year
2020 Australia's Local Hero

National Australia Day Council CEO, Ms Karlie Brand, said the national finalists represented the diversity of Australia and the many ways in which people were achieving and contributing.

"The national finalists are an extraordinary group of people whose impact ranges from medical and scientific endeavours to volunteering, human rights advocacy, education, sustainability action and more," said Ms Brand.

"Their stories reflect our communities and the world in which we live, inspiring us and reminding us we can all make a difference.

"As this is the 60th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards, it is a particularly special year to be a finalist.

"We look forward to welcoming all the national finalists to Canberra in January and celebrating their achievements and the history of the Australian of the Year Awards."