NSW's Australian of the Year finalists

NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2017 FINALISTS

* Australian of the Year: Deng Adut

Adut has been catapulted from an illiterate child soldier to a successful lawyer, with his remarkable journey from Sudan to western Sydney.

Taken from his mother at age six and forced to fight in a war that split Sudan, he was later smuggled out before making it to Australia.

He taught himself to read English, studied law and now practices in Sydney, with a focus on fighting for members of the Sudanese community.

* Young Australian of the Year: Arthur Alla

The 27-year-old is the founder of Red Earth, an organisation that connects remote indigenous Australians with city dwellers by allowing high school kids to live with traditional owners and volunteering projects for two weeks.

His work has raised half a million dollars for communities, helped put more than 1000 students in the program, all who've contributed 25,000 hours to projects.

* Senior Australian of the Year, Dr John Knight.

Considered the nation's first celebrity doctor, Dr Knight was the go-to for those with medical queries on radio for some 30 years.

He established Medi-Aid Centre Foundation which helps the elderly with a roof over their heads, buying up property for the charity including waterfront apartments for the frail and those without family support.

* Local Hero - Josephine Peter

Peter has amassed seven decades of volunteer work starting as a seven-year-old knitting socks for Aussie diggers.

She spent 25 years on the board of Broken Hill's Robinson College where she also acted as a volunteer tutor.

Peter is still volunteering at 83.