Palliative care researcher Professor Samar Aoun has been named the 2023 WA Australian of the year in recognition of her work supporting people facing end-of-life care.
The awards were announced at a ceremony at Government House in Perth with Governor Chris Dawson.
Middle-distance runner and Olympian Peter Bol is the WA Young Australian of the Year.
The 2023 WA Senior Australian of the year is community advocate Theresa Kwok.
Town Team Movement co-founder Jimmy Murphy was named the 2023 WA Local Hero.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated WA's award recipients.
"The WA award recipients are leaders taking action where it is needed to bring about change, to save lives, to foster inclusiveness and to create brighter futures," Ms Brand said.
The four West Australian winners will compete with those from the other states and territories for the national awards on January 25, 2023.
WA Australian of the Year: Professor Samar Aoun
Professor Aoun is the Perron Institute Research Chair in Palliative Care at the University of Western Australia, and was hailed as in international leader in advocating for an approach to end-of-life care that puts people at the centre of the planning and decision-making about themselves.
The 63-year-old's work also focuses on "under-served" groups, or those that may not have access to adequate medical care, including people with motor neurone disease and dementia, terminally-ill people who live alone, and family carers.
She is also co-founder and chair of the South West Compassionate Communities Network, which helps people to better support those facing death and bereavement, president of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA, and a board member of Palliative Care WA.
WA Young Australian of the Year: Peter Bol
Nagmeldin (Peter) Bol had the nation cheering for him when he became the first Australian runner in 53 years to make it into an Olympic 800 metres final in Tokyo last year, and became the fastest-ever Australian over that distance.
The two-time Olympian and his family are originally from Sudan, and arrived in Australia from Egypt when he was eight.
When he was 16, a coach convinced him to turn his hand to athletics and he never looked back, debuting for Australia at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 28-year-old also works as a coach, mentor and keynote speaker.
WA Senior Australian of the Year: Theresa Kwok
Theresa Kwok has spent much of the last 35 years helping migrants settle in Australia.
She migrated from Hong Kong, and has dedicated her life to supporting older migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse communities at Perth's Chung Wah Community and Aged Care.
The 68-year-old is now the chief executive of the organisation which provides community care programs for about 800 people.
WA Local Hero: Jimmy Murphy
James (Jimmy) Murphy founded the Town Team Movement because he wanted to inspire and support people to regenerate their neighbourhoods.
Through the non-profit social enterprise, the 42-year-old advocates for more accessible and affordable community spaces, and encourages community members and businesses to join.
Groups that have taken part in the movement have held street festivals, working bees, built community gardens and installed street art.
There are more than 108 Town Teams in Australia and New Zealand.
