We are thrilled to announce that the Stand Up Project's Founder, Dr Zach Greig, has been named one of four Victorian nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.
The National Australia Day Council announced the Victorian nominees on 29 October. Sixteen people from across the state were recognised in four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Zach is nominated in the Australian of the Year for Victoria category, alongside Associate Professor David Chong (volunteer surgeon), Cherie Dear (pancreatic cancer research advocate) and Associate Professor Jane Tiller (preventative DNA screening advocate).
What the nomination recognises
The Stand Up Project is an evidence-based, student-led bullying prevention program. It now runs in several hundred primary and secondary schools across Australia and internationally.
Zach's approach draws on his personal experience of bullying and his PhD in community development.
A nomination like this goes to one person, but the work behind it belongs to a lot of people: the students who lead the program in their schools, the teachers and principals who make room for it, and the SUP team who deliver it. This is their recognition too.
A word from Zach
"As an introvert, I find this nomination both thrilling and terrifying. In some ways, it also feels unearned. I always tell my students that SUP is their program, not ours. They identify the issues in their school, develop their own lesson plans, and teach their younger peers, teachers and families. So the recognition really belongs to them. Without their amazing work, SUP wouldn't exist. Thank you, leaders. You've made me proud."
Standing up for what matters
National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said the Victorian nominees were "standing up for what matters", pointing to their work supporting people when they need it and shaping better futures for the next generation. We couldn't have put it better ourselves.
What happens next
The Victorian award recipients will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday 12 November. You can watch the livestream at australianoftheyear.org.au.
The Victorian recipients will then join recipients from the other states and territories as finalists for the national Australian of the Year Awards, announced in Canberra on 25 January 2027.
You can read the full announcement and the list of Victorian nominees on the Australian of the Year website.
