With the 2026 Blind Australian of the Year Awards just days away, organisers and supporters are reflecting on how far the event has come and the important role it continues to play in recognising achievement, raising awareness and promoting inclusion across Australia.
Speaking with Vision Australia Radio’s community engagement coordinator Jason Gipps, Link Vision's Terry O'Neill and television personality and disability advocate Reggie Bird shared their excitement ahead of this year's awards gala in Brisbane.
From a grassroots idea to a national celebration
The Blind Australian of the Year Awards began nine years ago as an initiative of Blind Alliance Australia, a small Melbourne-based organisation run by blind Australians.
According to O'Neill, the original vision was simple but powerful: to recognise blind and low vision Australians who were making significant contributions to society while providing positive role models for others in the community.
"We wanted people who were really achieving in Australian society to be recognised," Terry says.
The inaugural individual winner was beloved Vision Australia Radio broadcaster and advocate Peter Greco, who has remained a strong supporter of the event each year.
As the awards continued to grow, Blind Alliance Australia handed responsibility for the event to Link Vision, helping transform it into one of the country's premier celebrations of achievement within the blind and low vision community.
Importantly, Terry says members of the original Blind Alliance team remain involved, helping preserve the spirit and values that inspired the awards in the first place.
An event that keeps growing
For Reggie Bird, who is returning for her third consecutive year, the appeal of the awards is easy to understand.
"It's so much fun and it's inspiring," Reggie says.
"I love being in that room full of blind and visually impaired people. They all get dolled up, they look a million bucks and we all just have fun."
Reggie said what stands out most isn't any one individual, but the collective impact of the finalists and nominees.
"Everyone that gets nominated and gets into the finals of these awards, they're all just amazing people. They're inspiring. They get out and have a go in life despite their disability."
New features for 2026
This year's awards will feature several new elements designed to keep the gala fresh and engaging.
A major addition will be keynote speaker Julie Goodwin, the former MasterChef winner, author and public speaker. Julie will speak on this year's theme, ‘Finding Light in the Darkness’.
The theme explores both blindness and mental health, two subjects that Julie has spoken openly about throughout her public life.
Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with Julie following her presentation.
Adding to the night's entertainment, Reggie will join Terry on stage, while blindness advocate and comedian Karen Nagroni will perform a stand-up comedy routine.
The evening will conclude with live music and dancing, giving attendees an opportunity to celebrate together after the awards presentation.
One trend organisers have noticed this year is the diversity of nominees.
While recent years have featured many athletes and sportspeople among the finalists, Terry says the 2026 finalists come from a much wider range of backgrounds.
More than an award
While the event celebrates outstanding achievements, Terry believes its greatest impact lies elsewhere.
"The awareness is far more important than the actual awards themselves," he says.
He believes community attitudes towards blindness and disability are changing for the better, with increasing recognition of the contributions people with disability make across all areas of Australian life.
The awards help showcase those contributions and reinforce the message that people with disability want the same opportunities as everyone else.
"It's not about them being different. It's about them contributing to Australian society in general."
The power of sharing your story
Reggie also spoke candidly about her own experiences with vision loss and why she believes conversations about disability and mental health are becoming more important.
Reflecting on her childhood, Reggie said topics such as mental illness were once rarely discussed openly.
Today, she is encouraged to see more people speaking honestly about both disability and mental health challenges.
"I'm happy to talk about all my struggles in life," she says.
"It's not all rainbows and butterflies."
Reggie said many people contact her to say her openness has inspired them to make the most of their own circumstances.
"I encourage people to get out and about and go and live life to the best that they can."
Looking to the future
With the awards continuing to grow, organisers have ambitious plans for the next decade.
One of the key goals is to take the gala nationally, rotating the event between major cities including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and potentially expanding into South Australia and Western Australia.
There are also plans to continue growing the award categories. Following the successful introduction of the Youth Award, organisers are exploring opportunities to recognise even more achievements within the blind and low vision community.
For Terry, the future is about ensuring the awards remain a platform for celebrating excellence while encouraging inclusion and awareness across Australia. For Reggie, the excitement is much simpler.
"It's such a great night".
With inspiring finalists, a new keynote speaker, comedy, entertainment and a strong sense of community, the 2026 Blind Australian of the Year Awards look set to continue that tradition.
