{"id":567836,"date":"2025-11-13T15:05:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/567836\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T15:05:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:05:15","slug":"gaming-addiction-treatment-pioneer-botanist-honoured-at-wa-australian-of-the-year-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/567836\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaming addiction treatment pioneer, botanist honoured at WA Australian of the Year awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

A psychiatrist who pioneered the country’s first gaming disorder clinic at a public hospital has been named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Western Australia.<\/p>\n

Dr Daniela Vecchio recognised the increasing number of young people addicted to social media and video games while heading mental health services at Fiona Stanley Hospital.<\/p>\n

In 2022, she spearheaded the opening of the first publicly funded gaming disorder clinic in Australia, focused on early detection and intervention.<\/p>\n

The clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital has since treated more than 300 patients.<\/p>\n

Dr Vecchio said her work is grounded in a deep desire to connect children back to their families, friends and community.<\/p>\n

Gaming addiction ‘devastates’ families, but this clinic is helping them recover<\/a><\/p>\n

With gaming disorders estimated to affect hundreds of thousands nationwide, an Australian-first clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital is helping people who struggle to control their use to turn their lives around.<\/p>\n

“I would call these children almost the invisible children because they are isolated in their room,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We are starting to see an increasing number of referrals for children who are very young, seven or eight.<\/p>\n

“These are our children, our future, that we need to help.<\/p>\n

“I’m hopeful that we can continue to grow, to develop, to help our children who are in need.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Professor Kingsley Dixon AO was named the Senior Australian of the Year for WA for his internationally recognised contribution to native plant conservation.<\/p>\n

One of Professor Dixon’s most notable achievements was in 1992, when he discovered smoke caused Australian plants to germinate after bushfires.<\/p>\n

As a professor at the University of Western Australia and the foundation director of science at Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden, he’s spent decades working with communities and industries across the state to better environmental practices.<\/p>\n

Professor Dixon said receiving the accolade was “extraordinarily humbling”.<\/p>\n

\"Kingsley<\/p>\n

Professor Kingsley Dixon says it will likely cost hundreds of thousands to rehabilitate the flora at\u00a0Nicolay-1 site.\u00a0 (ABC: Glyn Jones)<\/p>\n

“The place we call home is also the home to countless of other species and their future sits in our hands,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Without our nature we have no healthy country, we have no healthy culture, and we will rob our future generations of the joys that I’ve enjoyed, and I’ve enjoyed sharing with the extraordinary community members that I’m so privileged to work with.”<\/p>\n

Positive role models<\/p>\n

Positive masculinity educators Dr Haseeb Riaz and Gareth Shanthikumar took out the honour of Young Australians of the Year for WA.<\/p>\n

The pair co-founded the educational service Man Up and have reached thousands of students to address the root causes of poor mental health and gender-based violence.<\/p>\n

Dr Riaz and Mr Shanthikumar took their own struggles with transitioning from high school to adult life and decided to help other young men explore identity, relationships and emotional literacy.<\/p>\n

“Since our inception we’ve done over 45,000 sessions to 22,000 boys in WA,” Dr Riaz said.<\/p>\n

“The biggest thing that they say is that ‘I’m glad I can challenge what I thought was just accepted’.<\/p>\n

“It’s quite powerful having a male role model that’s positive.”<\/p>\n

Indigenous leader<\/p>\n

The award for the 2026 Local Hero for Western Australia went to First Nations construction leader Frank Mitchell for his efforts in creating opportunities for Indigenous workers.<\/p>\n

The Whadjuk-Yued Noongar man has co-founded three construction companies in the past decade and has created over 70 upskilling positions in the electrical and construction industry for First Nations people.<\/p>\n

Mr Mitchell said his entry into the construction industry changed his life and he wanted to share the opportunity with other First Nations people to grow their confidence in the workforce.<\/p>\n

“The electrical apprenticeship gave me so much, I started to think things and achieve things that I never thought (possible),” he said.<\/p>\n

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