Melanoma Researchers Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long Named Joint 2024 Australians of the Year

Melanoma researchers Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long have been jointly named the 2024 Australians of the Year in the field of health. As co-directors of the Melanoma Institute of Australia, they have revolutionized the treatment of melanoma through their pioneering work in immunotherapy. Their groundbreaking approach, which activates the patient’s own immune system, has transformed advanced melanoma from a fatal diagnosis to a curable disease within just a decade. They have also adapted this treatment to target brain cancer, which Professor Scolyer himself was diagnosed with. Professor Long’s idea to apply their melanoma treatment to brain cancer led to Professor Scolyer becoming the first person with brain cancer to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy. By taking this risk to advance the understanding of brain cancer and benefiting future patients, Professor Scolyer has made a significant contribution.

In their acceptance speech, Professors Long and Scolyer used their platform to advocate against tanning and UV radiation exposure, which are major risk factors for melanoma. They called for advertisers and social media influencers to stop glamorizing tanning and using it to sell or entertain, as there is nothing healthy about a tan. The pair emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of UV radiation and its link to melanoma.

In addition to honoring the achievements of Professors Long and Scolyer, the Australians of the Year awards recognized the contributions of Yalmay Yunupingu, who was named the 2024 Senior Australian of the Year. A distinguished teacher and linguist, Ms. Yunupingu dedicated four decades to teaching at the Yirrkala Bilingual School in Arnhem Land. She began by translating Dr. Seuss books into her local Yolŋu Matha language, eventually becoming a qualified teacher and implementing a bilingual teaching approach. Ms. Yunupingu also focused on educating the community about traditional healing practices, emphasizing the need to combine Western medicine with Yolngu healing for better health outcomes in Indigenous communities.

The Young Australian of the Year for 2024 was awarded to Emma McKeon, the most successful Australian Olympian of all time. McKeon’s remarkable achievements include winning six medals from six races at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and seven medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she broke multiple records. She has become a role model for aspiring young athletes and aims to inspire them to pursue their dreams.