Carrie Bickmore Named 2026 Australian of the Year for Victoria
Broadcaster and cancer fundraiser Carrie Bickmore OAM has been honored as the 2026 Australian of the Year for Victoria. The award was presented during a ceremony in Melbourne on November 6.
"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," she added.
Fundraising and Impact on Brain Cancer Research
Since 2015, Bickmore has raised over $27 million to support brain cancer research.
"We bat above our average in this country when it comes to medical research and science, we are extraordinary," Ms Bickmore noted. "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."
The Brain Cancer Centre Initiative
In 2021, Bickmore established The Brain Cancer Centre to unite leading researchers across Australia in the pursuit of a cure. The centre backs diverse research projects nationwide and is pioneering clinical trials for brain cancer patients—the first of their kind globally.
Summary
Carrie Bickmore’s dedication has significantly advanced brain cancer research through fundraising and the creation of a leading research center, inspiring hope for future cures.