Dylan Alcott made history on Tuesday night in becoming the first person with a visible disability to be made Australian of the Year in the award's 62-year history.
The 31-year-old athlete, Paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate was recognised for both his sport and disability awareness work.
Alcott told ABC News Breakfast he was still emotional after receiving the prestigious award.
"To be named Australian of the Year and to get it for not just being good at tennis, but for the work off the court … my purpose 10 years ago, yesterday, today and as Australian of the Year, it's never changed," he said.
"It's not to win tennis tournaments, it's to change perceptions so people with disability live the lives that they deserve to live.
"To be given that honour, to hold that platform to be able to do that, it's huge, and I'm just so grateful and thankful … it's unbelievable."
This is his speech in full.
"Thank you, everyone. Thank you.
"'I think standing ovations are one of the most ironic things in the world, by the way. But I'll take them, without a doubt.
"Firstly, I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land as well and pay my respects to [elders] past, present and emerging, to the Prime Minister, thank you so much.
"I honestly thought I was no chance tonight. I honestly didn't. I got off the court at 1:00pm today. I won my semifinal at the Australian Open, luckily.
"Have you noticed? It's a good-looking ramp. I thought 'oh, I'm underprepared'. I'm shaken.
"To everybody that's nominated for the Australian of the Year category but absolutely everybody here tonight, congratulations on what you're doing.
"I feel ridiculous sitting up here, to be honest.
"I was looking at everybody's profiles and what you're doing. You don't need this to keep changing this country. You really don't, and I'm extremely honoured to be among all of you and to get the nod, as I said, congratulations on everything that you're doing.
"And I feel, I mean, the last two years have been so tough on so many people and, I feel honestly ridiculous being here, to our front-line workers, our nurses, our doctors, people running our vaccines, our ambos, our firefighters.
"You deserve this much more than a guy who hits tennis balls and likes talking, you know what I mean? I really mean that. It's such a huge honour.
"And I know I guess she has officially finished her turn as Australian of the Year but it would be remiss of me without shouting out Grace Tame on an absolutely incredible year.
"I remember when I won the US Open I skolled a beer out of my trophy and you put it up on Twitter, saying, 'if I got to pass the mantle over to this guy I'd be honoured, but the only thing is we have to skol the beer together.' Give me a couple of days and then we can do it. Not just yet.
"I've been in a wheelchair my whole life. I was born with a tumour wrapped around my spinal cord that was cut out when I was only a couple of days old.
"I've known nothing but having a disability, and if I'm honest with you, I can't tell you how much I used to hate myself.
"I used to hate having a disability. I hated it so much, I hated being different and I didn't want to be here anymore. I really didn't.
"And whenever I did, it was a road safety ad where someone drink drives, has a car accident and what's the next scene? Someone like me in tears because their life was over.
"And I thought to myself, 'that's not my life', but I believed that was going to be my life.
"And I'm so lucky that I had one of the best family, some of the best friends, my beautiful partner Chantelle and my whole team who told me that I was worthy and that I was allowed to be loved.
"And when I reached the end of my teenage years, I started seeing people like me.
"I also stand on the shoulders of giants, not literally, um, still can't stand. But Paralympic athletes like Louise Sauvage, Kurt Fearnley, Danni Di Toro, people that are the reason that I got into sport, advocates like Stella Young, they paved the way so I can be here tonight.
"They should have been Australian of the Year as well. And I'm honestly so honoured to be up here and it's because of them and everybody in my life that I sit here as a proud man with a disability tonight.
"I get sent stem cell research on all this stuff and you can honestly not pay me enough money in the whole world to ever do it, because I love the person that I am and the life I get to live and I'm the luckiest guy in this country, easily.
"But I know for the 4.5 million people in this country, one in five people that have a physical or non-physical disability, they don't feel the same way that I do and it's not their fault.
"But it's up to all of us to do things so they can get out and be proud of their disability as well and be the people that they want to be.
"We've got to fund the NDIS, first and foremost, and listen to people with lived experience and ask them what they need so they can get out and start living the lives they want to live and remind ourselves that it is an investment in people with disabilities, so they can get off pensions and start paying taxes, just like their carers and their family members as well.
"As we start opening up from this pandemic, which is awesome, we've got to think about and prioritise people with disability. Some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
"We've got to get them the vaccines and the tests and whatever else they need so they can get out there and start living their life.
"If a person with a disability needs a free daily RAT test so they feel confident going out and doing things that we all might take for granted, they've got to get that RAT test.
"We've got to keep improving more employment opportunities for people with a disability as well. Of those 4.5 million people, only 54 per cent of them are involved in the workforce.
"The unemployment rate is double that of able-bodied people. Both figures haven't moved in 30 years.
"And lastly, we have to have greater representation of people with a disability absolutely everywhere. In our boardrooms, in our parliaments, in our mainstream schools, on our dating apps, on our sporting fields, in our universities, absolutely everywhere, so we get the opportunity to start living our lives just like everybody else and I promise you, you won't just enrich the lives of us, but also yourselves in the process.
"Before I go, I want to leave you with this — one of the number one questions I get asked by people is 'Dyl, mate, what is your advice to a young person with a disability or anyone with a disability so they can start living their life?'
"And my advice is this: you don't need my advice. You know what to do, and you've had people telling you what do your whole life.
"My advice is to you, non-disabled people. It's time for you to challenge your unconscious biases, leave your negative perceptions at the door and lift your expectation of what you think people with disability can do. Because it's always more than you think.
"Now, unfortunately, I heard the Australian of the Year afterparty is one of the best afterparties ever. But unfortunately I've got an Australian Open to try and win in about 36 hours.
"I really hope I make you proud out there. But, winning grand slams and gold medals isn't my purpose. It's like the 30th priority of my life.
"It was my purpose yesterday, today and it will be my purpose as your Australian of the Year for the next 12 months and beyond, and I really hope I make every single one of you proud.
"Thank you very much."
