2025 Blind Australian of the Year Finalist – Joanne Cabot

Joanne Cabot is an educator, advocate, athlete, and community leader whose work demonstrates resilience, creativity, and leadership. Legally blind since her early 50s, Joanne mentors and empowers people adjusting to vision loss, helping them build confidence, independence, and hope.

She founded the Fraser Coast Low Vision and Blind Community group, launched initiatives such as Eclipse: Dinner in the Dark and the regional Disability Expo, and is establishing Live Well With Vision Loss, a not-for-profit supporting people locally and globally. Through her advocacy, sport, and community initiatives, Joanne inspires Australians with low vision to live fully, embrace opportunity, and build stronger, more inclusive communities