Dr Haseeb Riaz and wellness mentor Gareth Shanthikumar have been named Western Australia’s Young Australians of the Year for 2026, recognised for their groundbreaking work supporting boys’ mental health and reshaping attitudes towards masculinity.
The pair, who co-founded the educational service MAN UP, were honoured at a ceremony at Government House in Perth on 13 November.
The event, attended by Governor Chris Dawson and WA Premier Roger Cook, also included a Welcome to Country by Rosemary Walley and a performance of the National Anthem by Madga Lisek.
Dr Riaz, 25, an intern at Royal Perth Hospital, is a former Dr YES Coordinator and has held several leadership and advocacy roles, including Chair of the Medical Student Council of WA and Board Director of the Australian Medical Students’ Association. Shanthikumar, 27, is a wellness mentor and personal trainer who uses his own life challenges to guide young people towards emotional resilience and personal growth.
Both founders experienced difficulties transitioning from high school to adulthood and recognised that harmful stereotypes of masculinity were leaving many young men without the tools to manage emotions or build healthy relationships. In response, they created MAN UP to give boys safe, relatable spaces to explore identity, mental health, respectful relationships and emotional literacy.
Through workshops on male culture, communication, and coping strategies, MAN UP tackles the root causes of poor mental health and gender-based violence, equipping boys with self-awareness and empathy before negative behaviours can form. Despite their growing professional careers, both Riaz and Shanthikumar continue to volunteer their time to deliver the program.
Since its creation, MAN UP has reached thousands of students and forged partnerships with educators, community leaders and mental health advocates across Australia.
The 2026 WA Australian of the Year category recipients were announced across four sections: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Australia’s Local Hero. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman closed the ceremony, which was live streamed on the Australian of the Year Awards website.
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