Australia’s first home-made Astronaut has been awarded the nation’s top gong.
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Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg has been named 2026 Australian of the Year, becoming the first Australian selected through the nation’s own space program.
The Australia Day Awards also recognised leaders in brain health, homelessness and Indigenous employment, highlighting impact across science, community and social justice.
From space exploration to dementia prevention and grassroots change, this year’s recipients were praised as “visionaries” driven by service to others.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the 2026 Australian of the Year.
In 2024, the Sydney-born mum, who is based in Adelaide, was the first Australian to become an astronaut through the Australian space program – the Australian Space Agency (ASA).
She was selected for the program from a field of over 22,000 aspiring space explorers.
“When I received my blue flight suit, and right there, bright on the left shoulder was the Australian flag,” the mother of two said in her acceptance speech at the 66th Australian of the Year Awards ceremony in Canberra.
“It was quite emotional, because it marked something so much greater than myself.
“It said that the door has opened for Australia to take our place at the forefront of human endeavour.”
Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian of the Year 2026 Image credit:
Australian pioneer
Ms Bennell-Pegg, 41, is an engineer who has worked in the space industry for over 14 years.
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She is qualified to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
She has worked on human spaceflight missions, the ISS mission, and Earth observation and space exploration missions.
As an employee of the ASA, she completed her 12-month astronaut training at the European Space Agency’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.
“For me, being an astronaut has definitely been a lifelong dream,” said Ms Bennell-Pegg in 2024. “But I never believed I’d have the chance to do that as an Australian.”
Professor Henry Brodaty, Senior Australian of the Year 2026 Image credit:
Treasure your brain
The 2026 Senior Australian of the Year award went to Professor Henry Brodaty, a tireless pioneer in the field of dementia treatment.
Professor Brodaty’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the early age of 52. The diagnosis motivated the son to better understand the disease, and to improve outcomes for patients and for families around the world.
In 2012, he co-founded the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing and led research that paved the way for a better understanding of the risk and prevention of dementia.
“Over 430,000 Australians are currently living with dementia and Professor Brodaty’s work is making a vital difference to their lives,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
In 2018, Prof Brodaty helped launch the three-year “Maintain Your Brain” trial, which revealed that targeted interventions can delay and even prevent dementia.
The 78-year-old “has reshaped dementia care from every angle as he navigates toward a future where dementia is better treated and prevented,” read a statement from the National Australia Day Council.
In his acceptance speech, Professor Brodaty urged Australians to better their approach to treating cognitive decline.
“People think more about their hair than what’s underneath. We should treasure our brains, just as we have our hearts,” he said.
“Australia has a proud record of prevention – smoking, skin cancer, and lots of other examples. It’s a ‘yes-brainer’.
“We need the Slip, Slop, Slap of brain health. The earlier we start, the better.”
Nedd Brockmann, Young Australian of the Year 2026 Image credit:
122,000 sleeping rough
Ultramarathon runner Nedd Brockmann scored the Young Australian of the Year award.
In 2022, the then 23-year-ran set off from Perth’s Cottesloe Beach on a 46-day run to Sydney’s Bondi Beach to raise money and awareness for the homeless and unhoused.
The 3952-kilometre journey raised $2.6 million.
Mr Brockman, an electrician from Forbes, NSW, was inspired to do something about homelessness when he saw people sleeping rough on Sydney’s Eddy Avenue on his daily commute to TAFE.
In 2024, Mr Brockman launched Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge, raising more than $8 million for those experiencing any form of homelessness.
“We should be proud of this amazing country, we are so lucky to call it home,” the now 27-year-old said in his acceptance speech.
“But unfortunately, not everyone feels that way. Why is it that 122,000 Australians sleep rough every night? That number should stop us all in our tracks.”
Frank Mitchell, Local Hero of the Year 2026 Image credit:
Tragedy to triumph
West Australian Indigenous construction leader Frank Mitchell has been named as Australia’s Local Hero of the Year.
The 43-year-old has created 70 Aboriginal upskilling positions in the electrical and construction industry.
The Whadjuk-Yued Noongar man is co-director of Wilco Electrical and co-founder/director of Kardan, Baldja and Bilyaa in the trades and construction industry.
Mr Mitchell was driven to create employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians after suffering through lived experiences of suicide and the loss of best friends.
“When I started my apprenticeship, my life shifted,” he said in his acceptance speech in Canberra on the Sunday evening of January 25.
“I was a single dad from a small rural community. I had struggled at school, was grieving the deaths of two close friends, and felt disconnected from who I was as an Aboriginal man living on colonised land.
“My uncle offered me a lifeline, a mature age apprenticeship. I now understand that work and education are not just about income or career progression, they are determinants of health and wellbeing.”
And he wanted to pass on that opportunity to others.
His business began with eight staff and a $1.5 million turnover. Now he has 200 people on his workforce, including 30 electrical apprenticeships. He has awarded over $11 million to Aboriginal subcontractors.
“His story embodies a vision that integrates cultural values with business leadership, strengthening his ties to community while reshaping the construction industry and creating lasting impact and social justice,” said the National Australia Day Council in a statement.
“Visionaries”
National Australia Day Council CEO Mr Mark Fraser called all Australia Day award recipients “visionaries”.
“Their motivations and goals go far beyond their own interests and achievements,” he said. “Rather, they are driven by outcomes which benefit others.
“Katherine is forging new frontiers for Australians in space engineering, research and exploration.
“Henry has turned his personal experience into a lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for people living with dementia.
“Nedd, confronted by how easily people can experience homelessness and the growing scale of the problem, chose not to look away.”
And he said Frank Mitchell’s tragic experiences inspired him “to pay it forward and create opportunities for others”.
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Feature image: Supplied (Salty Dingo)