Data analyst Geoffrey Smith has been named Queensland's 2025 Australian of the Year.
The 35-year-old co-founded Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA), which helps train and employ young neurodiverse people to work as geospatial data analysts.
At ASA, 80 per cent of employees are neurodivergent and 61 per cent have come from long-term unemployment.
Mr Smith said he was "bewildered" to receive the honour and the idea for his company came from "looking at people's strengths rather than their weaknesses".
"It's a bit weird that we want the social enterprise not to exist because we want mainstream employers to value neurodivergent people and employ them themselves," he said.
"It's not that bloody hard. Pull your finger out corporate Australia, and you can employ people and watch them thrive like we do."
Mr Smith said he had booked a holiday to Bali on Australia Day but he would now go to Canberra instead.
The unemployment rate for Autistic people of working age was almost six times the rate of people without disability, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
ASA hopes to employ 1,000 people by 2030.
Geoffrey Smith co-founded Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA). (Supplied)
PhD at 90
Queensland Senior Australian of the Year has been awarded to social worker and scholar Dr Bronwyn Herbert.
Dr Herbert was awarded her PhD at 90.
She completed a Bachelor of Social Work at 40 and then finished her master's at 61.
Dr Bronwyn Herbert received her PhD aged 90. (Supplied)
Dr Herbert worked as a social worker for 60 years and said she felt "delighted" and "very surprised" to receive the award.
In her research said she wanted to "hear" the voices of children who had experience homelessness.
She said would like to feel her work had helped people create "positive changes in their lives".
Dr Hebert was inspired to enter the field after becoming widowed with a newborn, and seeing the lack of support for young couples who had lost their baby.
Loading...During her time as a social worker, she saw many children who experienced homelessness become homeless again as adults.
Dr Herbert wanted to know why, and retired at age 81 to have time to study this for her thesis.
Now 91 years old, her work has contributed to a better understanding of homelessness and how to break the cycle.
Wildlife rescuer who raised more than $600,000
The founder of Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast Claire Smith was awarded Queensland Local Hero.
Ms Smith founded Queensland's first dedicated, volunteer-run, 24-hour wildlife rescue service.
The 59-year-old has spent decades advocating for conservation and engaging with all levels of government to advise on policy decisions.
Claire Smith (right) is the founder of Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast. (Supplied)
Ms Smith said she had always loved animals and she believed wildlife "deserves real ambassadors".
"When I first came to Australia, in the beginning of this century, I got off the airplane [and] the first thing I heard was a magpie," she said at the ceremony at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Monday.
"To hear that magpie for the first time, it struck me really deeply."
When accepting her award, she said she wanted to thank everyone who was part of wildlife rescue organisation and had "made rescuing and treating wildlife a priority".
Ms Smith raised more than $600,000 to help care for injured animals after the 2019 bushfires.
She also fundraised to establish Queensland's first dedicated kangaroo hospital and to buy two wildlife ambulances.
Indigenous scientist
Scientist Katrina Wruck was awarded Queensland Young Australian of the Year.
The 30-year-old, a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman, is using her research in chemistry to give back to remote communities.
Her research focuses on creating new materials to address contaminants in water while using sustainable and green solutions.
The 30-year-old is using her research in chemistry to give back to remote communities. (Supplied)
It has led her to set up a profit-for-purpose business that aims to change the consumer goods sector by using green chemistry.
Dr Wruck said through her whole life she had been told she "couldn't do it".
"I'd like to thank those people who said that I couldn't do it because you were a really big driving force in me doing it," she said.
"[I'm showing them (First Nations people) that they can do it because I did it if I can do it, they can do it."
Dr Wruck said receiving the award was "wild".
The scientist has long advocated for First Nations knowledge and participates in community engagement programs.
Students she meets frequently tell her she's the first Indigenous scientist they've met.
The Queensland recipients will join the other state and territory finalists for the national awards to be announced on January 25 in Canberra.