Rosie Batty Named Australian Of The Year

Rosie Batty. Photo: Getty Images.

Domestic violence awareness advocate Rosie Batty has been named the 2015 Australian Of The Year.

In February last year, Batty's 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father while at cricket practice in rural Victoria.

Since then, Batty has dedicated herself to campaigning for domestic violence awareness, becoming a voice for women in abusive relationships.

"I would like to dedicate this award to my beautiful son, Luke," she said upon accepting the award at Parliament House.

"He is the reason I have found my voice and I'm able to be heard."

Batty said that while Australians live in a "wonderful country ... there remains a serious epidemic across our nation".

"Family violence may happen behind closed doors but it needs to be brought out from these shadows and into broad daylight," she said.

Batty urged men to become involved in raising awareness of domestic violence, saying they needed to challenge each other and become part of the solution.

"Do not ignore what you see and what you know is wrong," she said. "Raise the conversation and don't shy away from this uncomfortable topic. We cannot do this without you."

"To the women and children who are unsafe, in hiding or living in fear, who have changed their names, left their extended families and moved from their communities to find safety, you do not deserve to live a life that is dictated by violence," she said.

"You are not to blame.

"To Luke, my little man, you did not die in vain and will not be forgotten.

"You are beside me on this journey and with me every step of the way."

Batty was one of eight people nominated for the award, with woman awarded the top honours in all four award categories for the first time in the history of the Australian of the Year awards.

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