The latest Australian of the Year is due to be crowned, with nominees ranging from the former chief of army to a nurse who worked with Ebola victims in Africa.
Last year's winner, domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, will pass on the baton on Monday to one of eight finalists from around the country.
Among them are former chief of army David Morrison - who led a campaign against sexism in the force - and former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.
Diversity advocate and transgender woman Catherine McGregor, who once worked for Mr Morrison as his speech writer, represents Queensland for her leadership in the transgender community and promotion of diversity.
(L-R) Australian of the Year finalists, Anne Carey WA, Will MacGregor Northern Territory, David Morrison from the ACT, Catherine McGregor Queensland, Lucy Turnbull, PM Malcolm Turnbull Elizabeth Broderick, ane Hutchinson from Tasmania, Dr John Greenwood and Julian McMahon from Victoria. (AAP) Source: AAP
"If we're a source of hope and inspiration to Australia, that makes me feel incredibly empowered," she told AAP.
The finalists were welcomed to Canberra on Sunday evening at a reception hosted by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove at Government House.
"The Australian of the Year awards are a way for all Australians to say to some remarkable people, thank you," he told the finalists on Sunday.
"Thank you for making this great nation a better place."
Eight finalists from four categories, including young and senior Australian of the Year, met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a morning tea at the Lodge on Monday.
Ms Broderick says she's humbled, excited and honoured to be involved in the awards.
"For me, it's about embracing equality, making sure that equality lies at the heart of the nation," she told AAP.
John Greenwood, a burns surgeon who represents South Australia, has developed innovative skin substitutes to help burn patients.
For him, the main honour is representing his state.
"To actually have somebody who thought it would be a good representative for South Australia is absolutely unbelievable," he told AAP.
"It makes you really proud but really humble at the same time, so it's sort of a dichotomy of feelings."
For Anne Carey, a nurse and midwife who flew to Sierra Leone to help control the Ebola crisis, a win on Monday would give her a platform to promote the courage to be kind.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on the lawns of Canberra's Parliament House on Monday evening, followed by a live performance by Australian rock favourite Jimmy Barnes.
Ms Batty, who will give her valedictory speech on Monday, has spent the past two years campaigning to end family violence after her 11-year-old son Luke was violently killed by his father at cricket training in Melbourne.
VICTORIAN AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Julian McMahon. Barrister and human rights advocate and fierce opponent of the death penalty.
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Jack Charles. Indigenous elder, member of the Stolen Generation, role model and one of Australia's most respected actors.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Robert Gillies. A co-founder of Homeless of Melbourne.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HEROES
Rebecca Scott. The founder of STREAT, a social enterprise business model that provides hospitality training for homeless and at risk youth
NT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Will MacGregor. Youth worker who runs a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Alice Springs.
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR Bob Shewring. Campaigner for the repatriation of the remains of Australian soldiers killed in the Vietnam War.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR Benjamin Masters. Musician who supports Darwin's local music scene by setting up all-ages, drug and alcohol-free gigs.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HEROES David Taylor. Provides meals for Darwin's homeless and mentoring for at-risk people.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR.
Dr John Greenwood AM. Burns surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital honoured for his development of innovative skin substitute products
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Monica Oliphant AO. Scientist recognised for her pioneering research into photovoltaics and renewable energy
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR.
Arman Abrahimzadeh. White Ribbon Ambassador who has worked to support victims of domestic violence after his mother Zahra was murdered by her husband.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO
Claire Foord. Established Still Aware to raise awareness of stillbirth after her daughter Alfie was stillborn at full term.
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Catherine McGregor AM. The Former Lieutenant Colonel who became an advocate and leader of transgender community after transitioning in 2012
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Tim Fairfax AC. The successful businessman who founded the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, which has given more than $16 million since 2008 to community-based arts, music and sporting projects in regional Australia
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett. The co-founders of Orange Sky Laundry, a free mobile laundry van service intended to help the homeless
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO
Michael Ross. The Olkola man appointed by elders to lead people of Cape York in fight for land rights.
NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Elizabeth Broderick. Former sex discrimination commissioner.
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Gordian Fulde. St Vincent's emergency department director who has campaigned against drug and alcohol-fuelled violence.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Melissa Abu-Gazaleh. Young men's health advocate and founder of the Top Blokes Foundation.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO
Catherine Keenan. Co-founder of the Sydney Story Factory which helps thousands of primary and high school students express themselves through writing and storytelling.
TASMANIAN AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Jane Hutchinson - environmental conservation
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Professor Ian Allison - climate science as a glaciologist
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Zac Lockhart - 20-year-old ambassador for the homeless
LOCAL HERO
Raymond Arnold - acclaimed artist who has turned the remote mining town of Queenstown into an arts hub
WA's AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Anne Carey. Australian Red Cross aid worker, who worked in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Graham Edwards. The veterans' advocate, former federal parliament MP and RSL state president
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Catherine Hughes. Became and immunisation campaigner when her one-month-old baby died from whooping cough.
LOCAL HERO
Stephen Langford. Royal Flying Doctor Service medical director
ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
David Morrison. Former Chief of the Army who worked to end sexism in the force.
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Professor Greg Tegart. Advocate for technologies to help aged and disabled people gain independence and a better quality of life.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
NIPUNI WIJEWICKREMA. Runs a floristry business to create employment for people with special needs.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO
PETER CURSLEY. After the death of his newborn baby daughter and wife he established the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation and has raised $4 million for the Canberra Hospital.
