Before Nedd Brockmann was named 2026 Young Australian of the Year, he had a dream.
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It was to live in a world without homelessness.
But first, he had to show people it was possible.
The plucky young electrician from Forbes set himself an awesome goal when he decided to run across Australia and inspire people to do more for themselves and the homeless.
His worry about homelessness was sparked by his journey into TAFE every week, where he saw too many people sleeping rough on Sydney's Eddy Avenue.
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He wanted to do something to highlight homelessness and help people understand that there are many reasons behind the plight of those without a place to sleep.
He also wanted to prove that it's solvable.
"We should be proud of this amazing country - we are so lucky to call it home. But unfortunately, not everyone feels that way," he said on Sunday night.
"In a country as prosperous as Australia, why is it that 122,000 Australians sleep rough every night? That number should stop us all in our tracks."
So, in 2022, he ran from Perth's Cottesloe Beach to Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, completing a 3952km journey over 46 days, and becoming the fastest ever Australian to do so.
At the outset, his goal was to raise $1 million for homelessness charity We Are Mobilise.
By the time he reached Bondi, where he was welcomed by more than 10,000 Sydneysiders, he had more than doubled his target.
Brockmann, now 27, raised over $2.6 million from over 37,000 individual contributors.
He went on to start Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge in 2024, and with his team, has raised over $8 million for those experiencing homelessness. He also raises funds for his charity partner, Mobilise, to change lives through innovative programs to reduce the number of people sleeping rough.
"There is a long way to go, but I believe the opportunity this award brings me is to connect with a new audience of people," he said, to a cheering audience.
"That will hopefully see the very real possibility to make a homelessness free future for Australia. And it all starts with showing each and every Australian, no matter their circumstance, that very love I felt as a kid."
