The 2023 Victorian Australian of the Year recipients were announced on 8 November 2022 at a ceremony at Government House. From a selection of sixteen nominees, four Victorians were named as the state-based recipients of the 2023 Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Local Hero of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year awards.
These Victorian recipients will progress in their respective categories as nominees for the national award. National recipients will be announced on 25 January 2023 in Canberra.
Australia Day Victoria would like to congratulate all the recipients and pay tribute to the outstanding contribution they make to our state.
Victorian Australian of the Year 2023: Dr Angraj Khillan
Paediatrician and co-founder of Health Awareness Society of Australia
Dr Angraj Khillan sold offerings outside a temple as a student in India to fund his medical books. Today, the paediatrician changes lives by delivering healthcare and health education to culturally diverse communities in Australia.
Angraj co-founded the Health Awareness Society of Australia (HASA) in 2018 to dispel taboos, myths and misinformation about health. Its volunteers deliver forums and virtual sessions in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic on topics from mental health to COVID-19 vaccinations.
But HASA is just one way he’s made a difference. The beloved ‘Dr Raj’ energised and extended the fly-in fly-out paediatric service for Aboriginal children in remote communities after migrating to Australia in 2004 and becoming the Royal Darwin Hospital’s paediatrician.
He’s worked to raise awareness of domestic violence and dowry abuse since moving to Melbourne in 2010, raising funds for philanthropy in India, East Timor, Australia and much more.