Esther Oh Wins Western Australia’s 2027 Australian of the Year Award

Telehealth innovator Esther Oh has been named the 2027 Australian of the Year for Western Australia. The Perth resident was among four state recipients honoured at a ceremony in Perth on the evening of 30 October, recognising work in health care, crisis support and Indigenous community programs. The National Australia Day Council’s award citation says Oh, 49, founded Agili8 after her son lost his vision following delayed treatment during COVID-19 lockdowns and skills shortages. The company uses smart glasses and smartphones to connect frontline staff with medical specialists remotely. The citation highlights her work with remote Aboriginal communities. Council chief executive Carrie Leeson said the recipients were “making a tangible difference in people’s lives”. Tina Baldwin, 78, of Bedford, was named the state’s Senior Australian of the Year. The organiser describes her as Lifeline WA’s longest-serving volunteer, with more than 40 years of service and 33,000 calls. Pheobe Ho, a senior clinical psychologist at the Child and Adolescent Health Service in Perth, received the Young Australian of the Year award. Her citation describes how her own experience of an eating disorder informed her clinical work. Bellevue resident Adam Desmond, 47, was named the state’s Local Hero. He founded the Indigenous basketball association Binar 15 years ago with six young people. The organiser says it now supports more than 2,500 predominantly Aboriginal children through sport, education, health and mentoring. The four state recipients advance to the national Australian of the Year Awards, which will be announced in Canberra on the evening of 25 January 2027.