Ebola nurse named WA's Aussie of the Year

Medical "warrior" Anne Carey has been named WA's 2016 Australian of the Year for her work as a nurse and midwife in danger zones including Darfur, Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone.

In Darfur, Ms Carey and colleagues came under attack but stayed to help local residents.

In Sierra Leone, she spent three assignments at the frontline battling the deadly Ebola virus and was among the first volunteers.

State president of the Returned and Services League of Australia Graham Edwards was awarded WA's Senior Australian of the Year.

The 69-year-old had both legs amputated after he was hit by an exploding mine in Vietnam in 1970.

He battled the aftershocks of war and discrimination before moving into public affairs and politics.

WA's Young Australian of the Year is 28-year-old Catherine Hughes, whose one-month-old baby, Riley, died from whooping cough, prompting her to become a campaigner for vaccination.

Every state and territory in Australia has now implemented free booster shots for pregnant women to provide the best defence against whooping cough in newborn babies.

Royal Flying Doctor Service medical director Stephen Langford was awarded the Local Hero honour for his 32-year career with the service.

Dr Langford introduced dozens of innovations, including special transfer equipment for heavy patients and blood clot-busting drugs for heart patients.

WA's winners will join recipients from other states and territories as finalists for the national awards to be announced on January 25 in Canberra.

WA's 2016 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

* Australian of the Year - Anne Carey (Esperance)

* Senior Australian of the Year - Graham Edwards (North Beach)

* Young Australian of the Year - Catherine Hughes (Claremont)

* Local Hero - Dr Stephen Langford (Applecross)