NSW Australian of the Year 2023: Full list of winners announced

Foster has been recognised as one of the country's most powerful voices for the disadvantaged, and honoured for his award-winning career as a sports broadcaster and champion of "active multiculturalism".

The state inducted Foster - a 29-times-capped Socceroo - alongside three other recipients at a ceremony in Sydney last night attended by the Premier, Dominic Perrottet.

Foster was awarded from a select group of finalists, including 2021 Newcastle Citizen of the Year, Indigenous surgeon Dr Kelvin Kong; The Hands of Rescue founder Dr Barry Kirby; and Indigenous constitutional and human rights lawyer Professor Megan Davis.

Foster, originally from Lismore, was recognised for his humanitarian efforts to secure the release of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi who faced extradition to Bahrain from Thailand in 2018 and 2019. More recently, he led a campaign to free refugees trapped both off- and onshore in Australia.

Former palliative care nurse Teresa Plane, 89, was named the state's Senior Australian of the Year, lauded as a pioneer in her field who established the home and day care centre Macquarie Hospice in 1984.

Conservationist and waste recycling advocate Lottie Dalziel - the 29-year-old founder of the recycling website and Banish - was named Young Australian of the Year. Ms Dalziel's initiative recycled 11 tonnes of waste from 11,000 homes products in its first 20 months.

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The state also recognised the Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh as this year's NSW Local Hero. Mr Singh's charity packages distribute up to 450 food and grocery hampers each week to people experiencing food insecurity in Western Sydney.

"The NSW recipients show us what caring is all about; caring about people, our planet and the community," Karlie Brand, the National Australia Day Council CEO said in a statement yesterday.

The four awardees will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards on January 25 next year.