Grace Tame is Tasmania’s First Australian of the Year

WINNERS OF THE 2021 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR – GRACE TAME

The 26-year-old first made history when she was granted an legal exemption to speak about her experience as a sexual assault survivor. Tame has again made it into the record books as the first Tasmanian to become Australian of the Year. She said she plans to use the award to continue advocating for abuse survivors and campaigning for better education in order to prevent child abuse.

At 15 years of age, Grace Tame was groomed and raped by her 58-year-old teacher at a Hobart private girls’ school.

While her abuser was convicted and jailed for his crimes, Tame was not able to speak about her experience publicly under Tasmania’s sexual assault victim gag laws, despite the perpetrator and media being free to do so.

SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR – MIRIAM-ROSE UNGUNMERR-BAUMANN

The 73-year-old Aboriginal elder from Nauiyu is an artist, activist, writer and public speaker who has worked to bridge the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous society. In 1975 she became the Northern Territory’s first qualified Aboriginal teacher, later becoming a principal and consultant. Dr Ungunmerr-Baumann believes all children should learn about visual art.

YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR – ISOBEL MARSHALL

The Adelaide medical student has been awarded for her role in co-founding a menstruation product company that gives all its profits to charity, providing education for girls and women in Sierra Leone and Uganda. The 22-year-old’s company also works with charity to provide women needing emergency accommodation in South Australia pads and tampons.

AUSTRALIA’S LOCAL HERO – ROSEMARY KARIUKI

The Kenyan refugee – who now calls NSW home – has been awarded for her work helping migrants combat loneliness as they adjust to life in Australia. The 60-year-old is also a multicultural community liaison officer for police, helping migrants facing domestic violence, language barriers and financial distress.

Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 25 January 2021

Tasmania stands united in congratulating Grace Tame as the 2021 Australian of the Year

I’d like to offer a huge congratulations to Grace Tame who has been announced as the 2021 Australian of the Year in Canberra tonight, in what is an incredible recognition of her powerful advocacy for survivors of sexual assault.

This is the first time a Tasmanian has been named Australian of the Year in the Award program’s 61 year history.

Grace has demonstrated extraordinary courage championing the #LetHerSpeak campaign, in which she used her voice to push for legal reform and raise public awareness about the impacts of sexual violence.

It takes immense courage for survivors to speak out about their experience, and in recognition of this the Tasmanian Government amended section 194K of the Evidence Act 2001 to provide victims the right to speak publicly.

As the national winner, Grace stands among a field of inspirational Australians, and I look forward with anticipation to seeing the powerful difference and change she makes over the next year and beyond.

I would also like to recognise and acknowledge all our 2021 Tasmanian category winners whom we are all so proud of including:

• Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year, respected Scout leader, Brian Williams.
• Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year, youth empowerment and climate action leader, Toby Thorpe.
• Tasmania’s Local Hero, founder of local organisation Kingborough Helping Hands, Edna Pennicott.

Congratulations to Grace and all our Tasmanian finalists whose remarkable contributions make our state an even greater place to live.