A digital addiction specialist tackling online harm, a distinguished botanist, advocates empowering young men to embrace respectful relationships, and an Indigenous construction leader have been honoured at Western Australia's 2026 Australian of the Year Awards on November 13.

Digital addiction and gaming disorder specialist Dr Daniela Vecchio has been named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Western Australia.

Dr Vecchio is head of mental health and addiction services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. She is the pioneer in establishing the first publicly funded gaming disorder clinic in Australia in 2022.

She has seen increasing numbers of young people with addiction to video games and social media and was quick to recognise the distress and harms caused to them and their families. The clini

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