Aussie of the Month

May 2023

Australian of the Year Awards Alumni are cheering on primary school students across Australia who are being recognised in ‘Aussie of the Month’, a free national recognition program celebrating community contribution and active citizenship in a similar way to the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.

Australia’s Local Heroes are visiting both virtually and in person, primary school students who are recipients of the awards.

Kempton Primary School in Tasmania was recently visited by Kim Smith, Tasmania Local Hero 2021 to present the Aussie of the Month certificate, badge and a pilot pen gift to Award recipient Lilly.

Lilly and her school mates were thrilled to meet Kim Smith APM, community volunteer with the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove Kim created Reclink, which organises sporting activities for drug-addicted teenagers becoming clean, and the Young Women’s program, mentoring teenage girls who were survivors of neglect.

His story of active citizenship, the power of volunteering and community building inspired students to make a difference in their own community both in and beyond the school gates.

Louise Anders, Acting Principal Kempton Primary School said that the Aussie of the Month program and Kim’s visit as an Australian of the Year award alumni was an opportunity for kids to be inspired by a powerful role model.

“Lilly was thrilled and overwhelmed and couldn’t believe that someone as important as Kim had presented the award. The award went to a very deserving student and she and her family are still feeling very elated from the experience,”

Aussie of the Month recognises and celebrates personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to community and reflects the values we share as Australians – such as a fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.

Schools now also have the opportunity to have a Local Hero virtually “visit” the school to present the award each monthly award through downloading a new video each month. Schools keen to take advantage of this initiative and hear from Australian of the Year Alumni need to sign up to the Aussie of the Month program at aussieofthemonth.org.au

Primary schools can register for the Aussie of the Month program for free at any time during the year. Once registered, schools are provided with certificates, lapel pins and Pilot Pen stationery items for monthly presentations within their school and online guidelines and over-the-phone support on how to run the program in their school.

The program is delivered in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and is supported by Pilot Pen Australia.

If you think this would be of interest to your school, please forward this link aussieofthemonth.org.au with a recommendation to consider to your principal.