Gaming habit remedy pioneer, botanist honoured at WA Australian of the Year awards

A psychiatrist who pioneered the nation’s first gaming dysfunction clinic at a public hospital has been named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Western Australia.

Dr Daniela Vecchio recognised the growing variety of younger folks hooked on social media and video video games whereas heading psychological well being providers at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

In 2022, she spearheaded the opening of the primary publicly funded gaming dysfunction clinic in Australia, targeted on early detection and intervention.

The clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital has since handled greater than 300 sufferers.

Dr Vecchio mentioned her work is grounded in a deep need to attach kids again to their households, mates and neighborhood.

“I would call these children almost the invisible children because they are isolated in their room,” she mentioned.

“We are starting to see an increasing number of referrals for children who are very young, seven or eight.

“These are our kids, our future, that we have to assist.

Professor Kingsley Dixon AO was named the Senior Australian of the Year for WA for his internationally recognised contribution to native plant conservation.

One of Professor Dixon’s most notable achievements was in 1992, when he found smoke triggered Australian vegetation to germinate after bushfires.

As a professor on the University of Western Australia and the muse director of science at Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden, he is spent many years working with communities and industries throughout the state to raised environmental practices.

Professor Dixon mentioned receiving the accolade was “extraordinarily humbling”.

“The place we call home is also the home to countless of other species and their future sits in our hands,” he mentioned.

“Without our nature we have no healthy country, we have no healthy culture, and we will rob our future generations of the joys that I’ve enjoyed, and I’ve enjoyed sharing with the extraordinary community members that I’m so privileged to work with.”

Positive position fashions

Positive masculinity educators Dr Haseeb Riaz and Gareth Shanthikumar took out the honour of Young Australians of the Year for WA.

The pair co-founded the academic service Man Up and have reached hundreds of scholars to handle the basis causes of poor psychological well being and gender-based violence.

Dr Riaz and Mr Shanthikumar took their very own struggles with transitioning from highschool to grownup life and determined to assist different younger males discover identification, relationships and emotional literacy.

“Since our inception we’ve done over 45,000 sessions to 22,000 boys in WA,” Dr Riaz mentioned.

“The biggest thing that they say is that ‘I’m glad I can challenge what I thought was just accepted’.

“It’s fairly highly effective having a male position mannequin that is optimistic.”

Indigenous chief

The award for the 2026 Local Hero for Western Australia went to First Nations construction leader Frank Mitchell for his efforts in creating opportunities for Indigenous workers.

The Whadjuk-Yued Noongar man has co-founded three construction companies in the past decade and has created over 70 upskilling positions in the electrical and construction industry for First Nations people.

Mr Mitchell said his entry into the construction industry changed his life and he wanted to share the opportunity with other First Nations people to grow their confidence in the workforce.

“The electrical apprenticeship gave me a lot, I began to assume issues and obtain issues that I by no means thought (attainable),” he mentioned.

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