Four Western Australians have been recognised in the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards, with their contributions spanning remote healthcare innovation, mental health support, crisis volunteering and Indigenous youth development.
The recipients were announced at a ceremony at Government House in Perth on Friday, 30 October.
Esther Oh was named the 2027 Australian of the Year for Western Australia for developing an innovative telehealth solution after her own family experienced the consequences of delayed medical treatment.
Her son lost his vision after treatment was delayed during the COVID-19 lockdowns and amid healthcare skills shortages. The experience prompted Ms Oh to establish Agili8, a technology initiative that uses specially designed smart glasses and smartphones to connect frontline medical workers in remote locations with specialist practitioners and AI-assisted tools.
The technology has been used in remote Aboriginal communities. In one case in Port Hedland, a patient was reportedly saved from a deadly infection and potential amputation within 15 minutes.
Despite battling aggressive cancer, Ms Oh continued developing the telehealth solution, which aims to overcome geographical, workforce, cost, cultural and language barriers in healthcare delivery.
More than 33,000 calls answered
Tina Baldwin, 78, was named Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia in recognition of more than four decades of volunteer service with Lifeline WA.
Ms Baldwin and her husband, Daniel, were among Lifeline WA’s first volunteer crisis supporters in the mid-1980s. Since then, she has answered more than 33,000 calls from people experiencing distress and seeking support.
Her award citation recognised her compassion, openness and willingness to listen to people in difficult circumstances.
She also mentors new crisis supporters, sharing her experience to help equip them with the skills and empathy required for crisis support. Her community contributions extend to volunteering at her local parish church and working as a family liaison officer with Ronald McDonald House.
Turning lived experience into support for young people
Clinical psychologist Pheobe Ho was named the 2027 Young Australian of the Year for Western Australia for her work supporting people affected by eating disorders.
Drawing on her own experience of recovering from an eating disorder as a teenager, Ms Ho pursued a career in psychology focused on young people and eating disorders.
She now works as a senior clinical psychologist specialising in eating disorders at the Child and Adolescent Health Service, supporting vulnerable young people and their families.
Her lived experience also informs her clinical research, including work exploring how personal experiences can contribute to a patient’s recovery.
Alongside her clinical responsibilities, Ms Ho advocates for better understanding and support for eating disorders, and contributes as a mentor, public speaker and national policy adviser.
Basketball creating pathways for Indigenous youth
Adam Desmond, 47, was named Western Australia’s 2027 Local Hero for founding Binar, Perth’s first Indigenous basketball association.
Established 15 years ago with just six young people and a basketball court, Binar has grown into an organisation supporting more than 2,500 predominantly Aboriginal children across Western Australia.
The organisation uses basketball as a platform for broader support, including education, health services, mentoring and strengthening cultural identity. Its programmes operate in schools and regional communities, creating opportunities for young people both on and off the court.
Binar has also become the first Aboriginal-led club to enter Western Australia’s representative basketball competition.
Mr Desmond’s vision extends beyond sport, with former participants now taking on roles as coaches, mentors and community leaders.
National awards in Canberra
Congratulating the nominees and recipients, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said the people recognised at the ceremony represented the best of what being Australian looks like.
In his address, Mr Gorman highlighted the nominees’ compassion and their commitment to helping people they may never meet.
He referred to Mr Desmond’s aim of giving children the opportunity to play sport, Ms Baldwin’s 33,000 calls to people in crisis, Ms Ho’s work as a beacon of hope for recovery, and Ms Oh’s ambition to create a better future for generations to come.
“What you see on this stage is the best of what being an Australian looks like.”
The four Western Australian recipients will join award recipients from other states and territories at the national Australian of the Year Awards ceremony in Canberra on 25 January 2027.
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