One of the world's leading scientists, Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons, will spend 2018 as the Australian of the Year after taking out the top honour at an awards ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday evening.
Prof Simmons is a pioneering physicist who leads the quantum physics department at the University of New South Wales.
During her acceptance speech, Prof Simmons said she was a woman working in a predominately male world and hoped to shatter expectations of what careers women should pursue and achieve.
Internationally-renowned maths teacher, Eddie Woo, was named as Australia's Local Hero.
His award comes days after he delivered the Australia Day address in New South Wales.
Young Australian of the Year went to 24-year old indigenous football star, Samantha Kerr.
The West Australian has become an ambassador for women's sport, and says her award embodies the progress it's recently made in Australia.
