Australian of the Year

As a gynaecologist, innovator and advocate for women’s health, Dr Fariba Behnia-Willison is transforming the lives of tens of thousands of women through pioneering pelvic floor medicine, surgical innovation and compassionate care. 

An Iranian-Australian migrant, her journey across Iran, Germany and Australia shaped her resilience, precision and commitment to innovation. She believes every woman deserves dignity, comfort and advanced healthcare. 

Through SmartFem’s TGA-approved Victoria Graft System, Fariba advances regenerative solutions using a woman’s own blood to create a graft for pelvic floor reconstruction, offering an alternative to synthetic mesh. 

Through Desert Flower South Australia, she supports female genital mutilation survivors, providing restorative surgery using her graft at no cost. 

Her mission extends beyond medicine by challenging silence, empowering women and building a legacy where innovation serves humanity. 

Her journey demonstrates how courage, compassion and knowledge can transform lives, restore dignity and ensure every woman’s health and voice matters, while inspiring positive change across generations together.