Carrie Bickmore, a prominent radio and television presenter, has been named Victoria's 2026 Australian of the Year. Bickmore gained national attention a decade ago when she wore a blue beanie on television while accepting her Gold Logie. She urged Australians to wear beanies to raise awareness about brain cancer, a disease that affects one Australian every five hours and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and young adults under 40. Bickmore's late husband, Greg, succumbed to the disease in 2010.

In her 2015 speech, Bickmore highlighted the stigma surrounding brain cancer, saying, "Throughout his cancer journey, he used to wear a lot of hats, and he used to wear a lot of beanies, and that was because he felt embarrassed about his scars and his head. I want to get the nation talking about brain cancer. It receives next to no funding, which is ludicrous because without funding, more people are going to die."

Since then, her charity, Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer, has raised over $27 million for research. In 2021, she established The Brain Cancer Centre, which supports more than 70 researchers working on new treatments and clinical trials.

Bryan Lipmann, recognized as Victoria's 2026 Senior Australian of the Year, has dedicated his life to helping the elderly homeless. At 77, Lipmann founded Wintringham, an organization that provides safe housing for older individuals facing homelessness. The organization currently supports around 3,000 people, offering them a place to live with dignity and respect.

Abraham Kuol, named Victoria's Young Australian of the Year, balances his PhD studies in criminology with mentoring youth in his community. The 27-year-old co-founded the Black Rhinos soccer and basketball club to engage at-risk youth through sports. He also serves as a director at Sandown Lions Football Club, where he helps create opportunities for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Linda Widdup has been honored as Victoria's 2026 Local Hero for her efforts to support Australian farmers. In 2019, she founded Aussie Hay Runners, a volunteer organization that delivers hay to farmers during droughts and natural disasters. The organization has mobilized over 70 trucks and delivered more than 90,000 bales of fodder to those in need.

The recipients of the 2026 Australian of the Year awards will be announced on January 25.