Taroona resident Julie Dunbabin has been named the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Tasmania in the Australian of the Year Awards.
Julie pioneered the School Lunch Program, delivered by the not-for-profit organisation School Food Matters.
The program, which started with just three schools, has grown to provide 14,332 nutritious school lunches to 6656 students every week.
It is expected to expand to 60 schools at the start of 2026.
Julie, 65, has spent most of her life as a teacher in home economics, and has seen for herself the impact food has on student wellbeing and education.
“Over the last 10 or so years the chicken nugget has certainly dominated the school canteen menu, even when there are other lovely options available,” Julie said when she accepted her award on Tuesday, November 18.
“Children go towards what they know, and so what the School Lunch Program is about is teaching them about amazing food from Tasmania and how to enjoy that food, sitting down with their friends and learning to eat off plates using knives and forks.”
National Australia Day Council Chair John Foreman AM said Senior Australian of the Year carries a lot of respect because “it’s a reflection of many decades of work by the recipient.”
Julie retired as School Lunch Project Manager earlier this year, but remains a consultant and ambassador for the program.
Dr Jorian (Jo) Kippax of Ridgeway was named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Tasmania in recognition of his work as part of a specialist rescue team who freed Lithuanian whitewater rafter Valdas Bieliauskas after he was trapped in rapids on the Franklin River last year.
The team amputated Valdas’ leg underwater, ultimately saving his life, and Dr Jo accepted a Life Saving Cross award from the President of Lithuania on behalf of the rescue team.
Alyssia Kennedy of Heybridge was awarded the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania in recognition of her work as a life skills educator, founding the Life After School program to give young people the tools to transition to adulthood.
Emily Briffa from West Hobart received the 2026 Local Hero for Tasmania award as the founder and CEO of Hamlet Inc., a not-for-profit community cafÇ that provides work experience and job skills for participants with disability, neurodivergence or mental health concerns.
These four Tasmanian recipients will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards to be announced on January 25 next year.
