Australia’s kindest people may not be the ones making headlines, but are the neighbours, volunteers and community members quietly helping others every day.
That is the message behind the search for Australia’s Kindest Person, a national campaign shining a spotlight on the small acts of generosity that often go unnoticed but can have a lasting impact.
Media personality Osher Günsberg, one of the campaign’s ambassadors, said the initiative was about recognising people who consistently make a difference in the lives of others.
“It’s the people that will do the small things every day over time that we may not recognise in our day-to-day life but end up affecting others in a huge way,” Günsberg said.
“The person that checks on their elderly neighbour every now and again, the shop owner who looks after the family that they know are struggling. We are surrounded by kindness.”
The campaign has already attracted thousands of nominations from across the country, with stories highlighting the quiet generosity found in local communities.
Parenting educator Lael Stone, who is judging the Kindness Close to Home category, said the search was focused on everyday acts rather than extraordinary achievements.
“We’re just looking for those kinds of small acts in the local community,” Stone said.
“Taking a meal to a neighbour who’s unwell, bringing the bins in, picking up the kids from school, all those beautiful things that are really about just connecting with the people around us.”
Among the nominations is Brian from Perth, who cares for his mother with dementia while also knitting sensory products that he gives away free to families facing similar challenges.
Another is Alex from Victoria, who continued volunteering at a community cupboard despite experiencing homelessness for eight months himself.
Stone said stories like these demonstrate how kindness can have a ripple effect through communities.
“When we see kindness, it actually impacts us,” she said.
“What they’re beginning to see is that when we witness kindness, that actually touches us and actually allows us to be kinder as well.”
The overall winner will receive $50,000 to split between themselves and a charity of their choice, while category winners will each receive $2,000.
Finalists will also be featured in a documentary highlighting their stories before the campaign concludes with an awards ceremony at Dreamworld, where Australia’s Kindest Person will be announced.
Australians can nominate someone they believe deserves recognition. All nominations are verified, and nominees are notified if they have been nominated.
