2025 Young Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory - Nilesh Dilushan

2020 Study NT Student Ambassador, Nilesh (Nil) Dilushan, has been announced the 2025 Young Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory! 

Nil inspires and unites young people from diverse backgrounds to serve their community. As co-founder of two not-for-profit organisations, he fosters youth-driven initiatives for social change. 

Nil's commitment to community service has led him to spearhead two successful community initiatives: The Kindness Shake and Rotaract Young Professionals Northern Territory. These organisations focus on upskilling young people, addressing literacy gaps and creating employment pathways, making a positive impact on their local communities. 

Their programs, such as FINSMART and Jumpstart, are making a difference by closing service gaps and providing young people with essential peer-to-peer support in financial literacy and substance abuse awareness.  

In 2023, Nil won Northern Territory Volunteer of the Year and the Chief Minister’s Youth Volunteer of the Year. 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.  

A huge congratulations to you, Nil!