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Deborra-lee Furness has been named 2015 NSW Australian of the Year for her work as a child advocate and adoption campaigner.
The Australian Women’s Weekly October cover girl was announced as the recipient by Premier of NSW, Mike Baird, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Monday night.
“An actor, director and producer, Deborra-lee is fighting for the rights of children in Australia and around the world,” it said on the Australian of the Year website. “Recognising the great need to help abandoned and vulnerable children and the mother of two adopted children herself, Deborra-lee established National Adoption Awareness Week in 2008, building the campaign from a volunteer-led, grassroots organisation to the active advocacy group it is today.”
In August 2014, Deborra-lee launched Adopt Change and is leading the campaign to overhaul Australia’s anti-adoption culture and lobby for national adoption law reform.
She is also a World Vision ambassador, working with world leaders and travelling through Asia and Africa to raise awareness of the global orphan crisis.
Deborra-lee established the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts in 2014 with a broad mission to nurture Australia’s rising stars.
The 58-year-old will join those from around Australia as finalists in the national awards in Canberra on January 25.
Author Jackie French was awarded 2015 NSW Senior Australian of the Year, while Genevieve Clay-Smith, 26, was named 2015 NSW Young Australian of the Year.
