Celebrate with Heart of Australia at our Gala

Heart of Australia is thrilled to share some exciting news – our Founder, Dr Gomes, has been announced today as a Queensland nominee for the 2026 Australian of the Year Award. This is his second time of receiving the privilege to be selected as a Queensland nominee for this award, and he joins a total of 134 incredible people across Australia being recognised for their life-changing work. 

This award takes place annually to recognizes and celebrate outstanding Australians who are role models for their communities and the nation. These awards honor individuals who have shown courage, made a profound impact, and inspired others to contribute to a better Australia.

This honour recognises Dr Gomes’ extraordinary commitment to improving access to specialist healthcare for people living in rural and remote communities through Heart of Australia. Since launching our first mobile clinic over a decade ago, his vision has grown into a life-changing service delivering vital care to thousands of Australians who would otherwise go without.

The announcement comes at an exciting time on the cusp of our national expansion. This recognition is not only a testament to Dr Gomes’ dedication and innovation, but also to the collective support of our valued partners and governments who make our work possible. Together, we continue to bring specialist medical services to the heart of the outback and change lives across regional Australia.

Please join us in congratulating Dr Gomes on this well-deserved acknowledgement of his passion and leadership. The Queensland Australian of the Year Awards will be announced via livestream at australianoftheyear.org.au on 12 November from 6:30pm (AEST).