JCU Alumni awarded Australian of the Year honours

James Cook University (JCU) is celebrating the achievements of two alumni who have been named Australian of the Year finalists, recognising their exceptional contributions to health, service and community leadership.

Professor Rose McGready has been named Australian of the Year for the Australian Capital Territory, while Dr Felix Ho ASM has been recognised as Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory.

These proud JCU alumni will compete against six other inspiring Australian achievers and advocates for the prestigious Australian of the Year award, which will be announced this Sunday at Canberra’s National Arboretum.

“I got an email at the Thailand–Myanmar border, which I took some time to check to confirm it wasn’t a hoax,” said Prof McGready, who learned of her achievement while working in the field.

Prof McGready completed a Master of Science at JCU from 2000–2001 while studying remotely on the Thailand–Myanmar border.

What began as a six-month volunteer placement became more than three decades of humanitarian health care, research and capacity building.

Working alongside Karen (Kayin) and Burmese staff, she has helped deliver frontline services and world-class research, empowering local workers to provide high-quality, locally led care.

Her work has significantly reduced maternal deaths from malaria and informed World Health Organization treatment guidelines.

She said JCU’s flexible approach to education was critical in enabling her to balance postgraduate study with demanding fieldwork.

“The best part of the JCU set up was the supportive flexibility for remote students,” Prof McGready said.

Prof McGready said the remote learning model continues to influence her work today, particularly in delivering education and training in remote communities.

“Remote learning with face-to-face blocks works well for knowledge-based learning for people who work or have other responsibilities,” she said.

“I have taken that lesson forwards as we work on teaching and learning in remote areas of the Thailand–Myanmar border.”

Prof McGready emphasised that her nomination recognises the collective efforts of frontline health workers and the impact of combining research with humanitarian practice to build local capacity.

Dr Felix Ho ASM completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval at JCU in 2011, strengthening his expertise in retrieval medicine and critical care.

He said studying subjects such as tropical medicine prepared him for working in the Northern Territory, where conditions are similar to Far North Queensland and tropical diseases are common.

“The knowledge and skills I gained gave me the confidence to meet these challenges head‑on and shaped the foundation of my professional journey,” Dr Ho said.

After long-standing involvement with St John Ambulance – beginning as a youth cadet and later serving as a volunteer ambulance officer – Dr Ho is now the National Youth Officer, leading a national youth program supporting around 3,000 young people across Australia.

Through this role, he champions mentorship and role modelling, helping young people develop first aid skills, confidence and leadership to respond in emergencies and contribute to their communities.

Dr Ho said he was deeply humbled to be nominated for the Australian of the Year finals, but it means more than individual recognition.

“This award represents something greater: that the everyday contributions of ordinary Australians matter,” he said.

“Service matters, whether it’s providing health care, addressing inequalities, listening to young people, or volunteering to strengthen our communities.

“I feel fortunate to have built my foundations through education and training at JCU, and I hope that future generations will continue to benefit from the same accessibility and quality of education that shaped my own path.”

The recognition of Prof McGready and Dr Ho highlights the impact of JCU alumni working across health, research and service, particularly in remote, regional and underserved settings in Australia and internationally.

More information about the work of Prof McGready and the Dr Rose McGready Foundation can be found here.