Megan Gilmour named 2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT

The 2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT is Megan Gilmour, co-founder of MissingSchool.

Ms Gilmour, 55, of Hawker, was named ACT winner at a ceremony in Canberra tonight (Thursday, 14 November).

When her son survived a traumatic illness, Ms Gilmour vowed to support the 1.2 million Australian children at risk of missing school because of chronic medical and mental conditions.

Using her life experience and work across 24 countries, she co-founded MissingSchool to keep these students connected to school, learning alongside their peers, from hospital or home.

In 2015, she co-wrote Australia’s first national report on school isolation, initiating a Commonwealth report in 2016. Her 2017 Churchill Fellowship across six countries started the world’s first telepresence robot service, reconnecting more than 7000 Australian classmates in real-time.

The 2025 Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT are Peter Ralston OAM, 75, and his wife Marilyn Ralston, 74, of Kaleen, running supporters for the vision-impaired.

Peter is the founder and president of the Achilles Running Club, Canberra, which he and Marilyn started in 2013. Their goal was to make it possible for people with vision impairment to walk or run at mainstream events and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.

In the past three years, Peter has guided blind athletes 120 times at parkrun, and Achilles Canberra has enabled several blind members to each achieve hundreds of parkruns. They both also serve the community – Peter through the Lions Club of Canberra Belconnen and Marilyn at St John’s Care, Reid.

In recognition of his service to sport for people who are blind or have low vision, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020.

The 2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT is artist and neurodiversity advocate Daniel Bartholomaeus.

Daniel, 21, is an artist with a special gift – an innate ability to inspire and motivate others, especially within the neurodiverse community.

Daniel, who has autism and ADHD, has lived with anxiety since he was young. In 2022, despite suffering depression and at a low point, he secured a place at university thanks to his artwork.

Today, Daniel is a mentor with The With Friends Initiative, a social group for neurodivergent young people, and has worked with Daydream Machine, the National Gallery of Australia and the United Nations to help young people realise that it’s not about what you can’t do, but what you can do.

The 2025 Local Heroes for the ACT are Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone.

Vanessa Brettell, 31, and Hannah Costello, 32, use the power of hospitality to empower those most vulnerable in their community.

Their business, Cafe Stepping Stone, operates as a social enterprise, employing women from migrant and refugee backgrounds and others who experience significant barriers to employment.

Their sustainable vegetarian cafés offer culturally and linguistically diverse women employment pathways, on-the-job training and qualifications through partnerships with registered training organisations.

Hannah and Vanessa’s inclusive employment practices involve targeting female workers who are the sole income earners in their household, new arrivals to Australia, those with limited English or minimal employment history, and those experiencing homelessness. The employees are supported to gain skills and experience, facilitating their entry or return to the workforce.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Australia Day Council, Mark Fraser AO CVO, congratulated the recipients for the ACT.

“The ACT award recipients share a commitment to ability and inclusion,” he said.

“Megan is committed to keeping sick children involved in education and community; Peter and Marilyn ensure vision is not a barrier for those who love to run; Daniel uses his art to help other neurodivergent young people and break down misconceptions; while Hannah and Vanessa are providing pathways to confidence, community and employment for women finding a new home in Australia.”