The 2025 South Australian of the Year Awards were held tonight, celebrated outstanding contributions from some remarkable locals. Each honouree will now proceed to the national Australian of the Year Awards, which will be held on January 25th, 2025.
Child protection expert Professor Leah Bromfield (pictured above) has been named the 2025 Australian of the Year for South Australia. As the director and chair of child protection at the Australian Centre for Child Protection, Bromfield’s efforts over two decades have positioned her as a leading figure in the field. She played a pivotal role in developing the first evidence-based analysis of child protection practice frameworks and has been instrumental in advocating for significant policy reforms including the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children established in 2007. Currently, she leads a project to develop new child protection strategies in South Australia, employing innovative approaches to safeguard children from abuse and neglect.
Joining her in celebration, Charles Jackson OAM received the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year for South Australia title. With over five decades of working with Indigenous communities, Jackson has held numerous roles from a drover to a justice of the peace—the first Aboriginal to serve in this capacity in Australia. He is a recognised knowledge holder for the Flinders Ranges Nation and is actively involved in efforts to have the Wilpena Pound recognised as a world heritage site. Jackson also recently founded Urndu, an organisation aimed at providing culturally appropriate training and support for the Aboriginal community, particularly those with disabilities or age-related impairments.
The honour of 2025 Young Australian of the Year for South Australia went to Amber Brock-Fabel, founder of the South Australian Youth Forum. At only 17, she established the forum to elevate the voices of youth in legislative and policy discussions. Under her stewardship, the group has made significant strides, engaging with international platforms such as the United Nations Summit of the Future and receiving national accolades for effectively connecting communities.
Sobia and Irfan Hashmi were jointly awarded the 2025 Local Heroes for South Australia. The couple, both pharmacists, have significantly impacted healthcare in remote and rural areas by setting up pharmacies and providing essential services where there were previously none. Committed to multicultural integration, their staff can communicate in 21 different languages, ensuring inclusive care for all community members. Their initiatives such as multilingual outreach and educational webinars have aided thousands of overseas pharmacists in integrating into the local workforce.
These awardees represent the diverse strengths of South Australia, championing causes from child welfare to community health and indigenous rights.
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