Overview
- Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag after completing basic training at the European Astronaut Centre in 2024 with funding from the Australian Space Agency.
- She says she has not flown to space yet and will use the role to open doors to space careers and keep more young people engaged in STEM.
- At the ceremony in Canberra, the Prime Minister announced a government-funded Neale Daniher MND Clinical Network and a forthcoming honours list for Bondi attack community responders.
- Professor Henry Brodaty was named Senior Australian of the Year for pioneering dementia prevention research, and Nedd Brockmann was named Young Australian of the Year for major fundraising to address homelessness.
- Local Hero Frank Mitchell, a Whadjuk‑Yued Noongar business owner, has created more than 70 Indigenous upskilling roles, employs over 200 staff, and has awarded over $11 million to Aboriginal subcontractors.