CDU student up for prestigious 2025 Australia Day honours
Charles Darwin University (CDU) Master of Public Policy student Nilesh Dilushan has been announced as the Northern Territory’s 2025 Young Australian of the Year.
Awarded for his sustained commitment to inspiring and uniting young people from diverse backgrounds to serve their community, Nilesh transformed from student leader to community leader during COVID-19 – co-founding his first not-for-profit Kindness Shake in response.
Working alongside his fellow CDU student co-founders - Ben Poveda-Alfonso, Ali Dhirani, Manfred Mletsin, Tatenda Mapuranga, Ana Nunez, Sunny Zitan Liu and Jimena Espitia - the charity served more than 6,000 meals and assisted more than 800 people experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic.
Nilesh has since gone on to co-found his second not-for-profit, Rotaract Young Professionals NT, with programs like Jumpstart and FINSMART providing young people with essential peer-to-peer support in financial literacy and substance abuse awareness.
“My work is about challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers and creating opportunities for young people,” Nilesh explained.
“Regardless of where we come from, how old we are, or what language we speak, we are all capable of making a difference.”
Previously awarded 2023 NT Volunteer of the Year and 2023 Chief Minister’s Youth Volunteer of the Year, Nilesh was a finalist in the 2024 Darwin Young Citizen of the Year and winner of the 2024 NT Young Achievers Connecting Communities Award.
He also received a Special Commendation for his work as an advocate addressing youth employment pathways and skill and leadership development at the CDU 2024 Alumni Awards.
From an immigrant grappling with cultural displacement and language barriers to a community leader inspiring a new generation, his journey embodies the Territory’s multicultural spirit.
Nilesh will join fellow 2025 Australia of the Year nominees from the Territory Grant Ngulmiya (Australian of the Year), Michael Foley OAM (Senior Australian of the Year) and Mignon McHendrie (Local Hero) in Canberra next year to compete in the prestigious national competition.
“I hope my nomination sends a message of hope for all multicultural youth,” Nilesh said.
“It seems impossible until it is done for the first time.”
The 2025 Australian of the Year Awards will be held in Canberra Saturday 25 January 2025.