Australian of the Year

Darian Brooker channels her experience in foster care into supporting thousands of young people through academic tutoring, mentoring and wellbeing programs. 

Entering foster care at eight years old and changing schools 26 times, Darian faced instability and disrupted learning. Today, Darian advocates for the voices of children and young people and child safety – proving how one person’s resilience can help others. 

In 2017, Darian founded We, Future Leaders, without external capital, growing from a solo tutoring initiative into an enterprise employing more than 50 staff and helping over 4,000 students. With a learning hub in Kirrawee, Darian is a role model for young female founders.  

Darian partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities and the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to deliver fully subsidised tutoring and wellbeing programs for seriously ill children and young people in out of home care. Darian also speaks to thousands of students each year to show how today's adversity doesn't limit tomorrow's opportunities.