Carrie Bickmore Named 2026 Australian of the Year for Victoria
Broadcaster and cancer fundraiser Carrie Bickmore OAM was honored as the 2026 Australian of the Year for Victoria at a ceremony in Melbourne on November 6.
Personal Reflection on the Award
"It's really bittersweet to be honest, because I wouldn't be here unless my late husband had died," Ms Bickmore said in her acceptance speech. "And so, while I graciously accept the award, if I could go back and make that little 21-year-old young Carrie not have to watch her boyfriend have a seizure in bed and then endure a nine-year battle with brain cancer, I would do that."
Fundraising and Research Efforts
Since 2015, Carrie Bickmore has raised over $27 million for brain cancer research. She highlighted Australia’s strengths in medical research during her speech:
"We bat above our average in this country when it comes to medical research and science, we are extraordinary."
The Brain Cancer Centre
In 2021, Ms Bickmore founded The Brain Cancer Centre to unite leading researchers and accelerate the search for a cure. The centre supports projects nationwide and is conducting pioneering clinical trials, which aim to save lives:
"Our brain cancer centre has some of the greatest minds in this country at the moment. We have clinical trials happening, which is not something I could have ever imagined, that will hopefully one day save lives."
Impact
- The Brain Cancer Centre drives groundbreaking trials for brain cancer patients, the first of their kind globally.
- The centre fosters collaboration among top Australian researchers.
Author’s summary: Carrie Bickmore’s dedication has significantly advanced brain cancer research in Australia, earning her the 2026 Victorian Australian of the Year award.