Meet the finalists: Australian of the Year 2015 awards

Wondering who your state finalist is for this year's Australian of the Year award? Meet the eight candidates.

Meet the finalists, one from each state and territory, for this years Australian of the Year 2015 award.

Hetty Johnston AM - Queensland

Hetty Johnston AM, Victorian Australian of the Year Award 2015 finalist.

Ms Johnston founded the child protection charity, Bravehearts.

She is determined to make Australia the safest place in the world for children.

Hetty established Bravehearts in 1997 after learning her daughter had been sexually assaulted.

Rosie Batty - Victoria

Rosie Batty is the Victorian finalist for the major Australian of the Year Award 2015.

Rosie Batty has become a domestic violence campaigner after her son died at the hands of his father.

Rosie’s strength and selfless efforts are an inspiration to many other victims of domestic violence and her courage and willingness to speak out will make Australia a far better place.

Glenn Keys - Australian Capital Territory

Glenn Keys is the ACT finalist for the Australian of the Year Award 2015.

Mr Keys is a philanthropist and business leader, who believes in giving back.

He is the managing director of global healthcare provider, Aspen Medical, and places corporate social responsibility at the heart of his business. 

The company has its own foundation that uses a percentage of its profits to tackle major Australian health issues.

Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM - Northern Territory

Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM is the Northern Territory finalist for the Australian of the Year Award 2015.

Ms Kunoth-Monks is respected nation-wide for standing up for traditional Indigenous ways of life, and the culture of the Anmatjere people.

She has appeared on screen, spent time as a nun in Melbourne and has since been involved in politics in the Northern Territory.

Rodney Croome AM -Tasmania

Tasmania's finalist for the Australian of the Year Award 2015 is Rodney Croome.

Being homosexual was illegal in Tasmania in 1994 when Mr Croome walked into a Tasmanian police station to hand himself in.

Since then, Mr Croome has campaigned for LGBTI rights across Australia and Tasmania.

Mr Croome is involved with Australian Marriage Equality, who campaign for same sex marriage equality in Australia.

Professor Lyn Beazley AO - Western Australia

Western Australia's finalist for the Australian of the Year Award 2015 is Lyn Beazely.

Professor Beazley is passionate about science, and about making sure every Australian child learns to love science. 

She helped establish a nationwide ‘hotline’ for school laboratory technicians, led a program supplying microscopes to hundreds of primary schools and campaigned for healthier waterways.

Professor Beazley has been a science ambassador in Australia and internationally.

Deborra-lee Furness - New South Wales

The NSW finalist for the Australian of the Year 2015 award is Deborra-lee Furness.

Deborra-lee Furness is an actress, director, producer and a child rights activist.

Ms Furness travels the world as a World Vision ambassador to spread awareness about adoption.

She founded National Adoption Awareness Week in 2008.

Dr Gill Hicks MBE - South Australia

Dr Gail Hicks is the South Australian finalist for the Australian of the Year 2015 award.

Dr Hicks founded M.A.D. for Peace, which aims to end conflict and bring about sustainable peace.

Her quest to make a difference began after her legs were destroyed in a bombing incident in 2005.

Since then, Dr Hicks has become a motivational speaker and wrote a book about the incident that took her legs - One Unknown.