BRAVEHEARTS founder and Cedar Creek resident Hetty Johnston has been named Queensland's Australian of the Year.
The award puts Ms Johnston in the running for the 2015 Australian of the Year title to be announced on January 25.
Ms Johnston, who founded Bravehearts in 1997, believes recognition of her work has come as part of a "cultural shift" in attitudes towards child sexual abuse.
She said huge milestone for Bravehearts was the announcement of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2012.
"The media is now talking about these things," she said.
"The whole reason child sexual abuse continues is because of the culture of silence.
"The time is right for these things to change and I feel honoured and privileged to be a part of that."
More recently, Bravehearts led a new social media campaign called Who R U Protecting, in conjunction with its White Balloon Day on September 12.
"That campaign just went viral and it was not even about fundraising," Ms Johnston said.
"It was about needing everyone to engage with this issue the same way they do with breast cancer, our kids need to be high on our agenda."
Premier Campbell Newman congratulated Ms Johnston for her tireless and effective work in campaigning to keep children safe.
“Like Hetty Johnston, the government wants to make Queensland the safest place to raise a family and Hetty is an energetic and determined campaigner for children’s rights who works hard with her Bravehearts team to give them a voice,” Mr Newman said.
The Premier also congratulated three other community heroes – Fred Hyde, Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Juliette Wright - who were also announced as recipients at Queensland’s Australian of the Year for 2015 awards ceremony in Brisbane this afternoon.
Mr Newman commended all of the award winners for their generosity, passion and commitment.
“All four recipients are truly inspirational people and we should all be proud to count them as part of our Queensland community,” Mr Newman said.
“It is through their selfless, determined and unwavering commitment to their individual fields that they make our society a better place and in turn act as role models for younger and older generations alike.
“Each year these awards provide a nationwide platform of recognition. They not only allow us to celebrate the best and brightest among us, but also provide an opportunity to learn about the remarkable and inspiring stories of Queenslanders making a difference to Australia.
“These recipients are very deserving of their awards and should be proud of their achievements. We are truly humbled by their triumphs, dedication and selflessness.
“On behalf of Queensland, I would like to thank Hetty, Fred, Yassmin and Juliette for their contribution and wish them all the best at the national Australian of the Year Awards, to be held in Canberra on the eve of Australia Day.”
