The 2022 Victoria Australian of the Year is athlete, paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate Dylan Alcott OAM.
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As a teenager, Alcott hated being in a wheelchair because he didn't see anyone like him in mainstream media. Then sport changed everything. A gold medal at the Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball preceded three more in Paralympic competition after a cross-code switch to tennis.
Now, with 23 quad wheelchair Grand Slam titles and a Newcombe Medal, Alcott recently became the first male in history, in any form of tennis, to win the Golden Slam.
Amid his training and competition load as a world-class athlete, Alcott notes his most profound impact has come from beyond the field of play.
He founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation to provide scholarships and grant funding to marginalised Australians with a disability. He also authored his best-selling autobiography, Able, and co-founded Get Skilled Access.
In addition, the 30 year old's AbilityFest is Australia's first and only inclusive, fully accessible music festival.
Gaye Hamilton, Deputy Chancellor of Victoria University is the 2022 Victoria Senior Australian of the Year.
No-one can question Gaye Hamilton's unwavering enthusiasm for Melbourne's west - whether as Deputy Chancellor of Victoria University, Chair of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, or Director of the Victorian Government's State Sports Centres Trust.
Across her many, diverse undertakings throughout her working life, last year proved to be Gaye's greatest test. The COVID-19 pandemic hit many industries hard, including tertiary institutions.
At Victoria University, she navigated the breadth and complexity of pandemic-related issues through 2020 and beyond. Victoria University went on to be voted number one in Australia for employability - a remarkable achievement in a sector hit hard by COVID-19.
The 2022 Victoria Young Australian of the Year is co-founder and executive director of Youth Activating Youth, Ahmed Hassan.
Dedicated, hardworking and fearless, 25 year old Ahmed Hassan has a clear vision on how to best assist and advocate for disadvantaged young people from multicultural backgrounds. He possesses an innate ability to relate and connect, passing on critical life skills around education, employment, health and wellbeing.
In 2014, at the age of 18, Ahmed co-founded Youth Activating Youth, alongside fellow community leader and current CEO, Ali Ahmed.
Youth Activating Youth offers support to marginalised and disadvantaged young people - particularly those who consistently fall through the cracks.
It provides them with the essential skills needed to build self-confidence and self-sufficiency.
Originally a youth-led committee, Youth Activating Youth has grown into an established not-for-profit organisation with a committed team and a diverse and multidisciplinary board.
Born in the northern suburbs of Melbourne to parents from Somalia and Eritrea, Ahmed is driven by a desire to form social cohesion, bridge cultural divides and achieve the best outcomes for young people from multicultural backgrounds across Victoria.
Leo op den Brouw, volunteer with the Mallacoota State Emergency Service, is the 2022 Victoria Local Hero.
For 35 years, Leo op den Brouw has been an active volunteer with the Mallacoota State Emergency Service. He's served as its unit controller since 2017.
Leo's dedication and inspirational leadership were on display during and after the 2019-20 bushfires, when the Mallacoota community faced one of its greatest challenges. On New Year's Eve 2019, a huge bushfire devastated the Mallacoota township and surrounding area. The fire ravaged 123 homes and burnt 83 per cent of the land.
It also destroyed businesses, farms and livelihoods, while decimating recreation facilities, wilderness areas and wildlife. Ongoing road closures and fire threats meant Mallacoota and its nearby communities were cut off for around five weeks.
Fortunately, due to the preparedness, coordination and decisive action of local community leaders like Leo, no lives were lost, and injuries were minimal.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the award recipients from Victoria.
"The Victorian award recipients are inspirational leaders," said Ms Brand.
"Their achievements and contributions are examples to us all and we look forward to welcoming them to Canberra for the national awards event in January."
The four Victorian award recipients will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards to be announced on 25 January 2022.