'We both cried': Dr Katrina Wruck reveals the emotional impact of her award
Being awarded such a prestigious title finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things. And that I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy, but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
Dr Wruck, 30, is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since Dr Wruck received the Young Australian of the Year award, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Young Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said. "Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until July 31.
Dr Wruck urged people to put forward someone they knew for the awards.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE NOW!
Dr Wruck said she was now busier than ever, juggling her academic work with Australian of the Year commitments.
Trying to be a public person while being neurodiverse had been a challenge - but also a revelation.
She said "masking" had in the past been a fallback position - hiding her true self to cope. But that was changing since she had been thrust into the national spotlight.
"I've kind of started taking that mask off a lot more, which has actually been really helpful because it's actually really draining to wear a mask - as in trying to assimilate to everyone's expectations of you," she said.
READ THEIR STORIES
Being named Young Australian of the Year also helped to banish her "impostor syndrome":
"It's incredibly validating to get this kind of recognition and to be able to talk to more people and spread my message to a whole range of audiences, but importantly to Indigenous students, young women and young neurodivergent people."
In the months since she was handed her award by the Prime Minister in Canberra, Dr Wruck had received some heartfelt feedback.
"I got an email from a student who asked if she could do her speech - which was about an Australian hero - on me," she said.
"This young girl actually sent me the speech and it was so beautiful."
Now, as the Young Australian of the Year with the respect of a nation behind her, Dr Wruck has also had to change her mindset.
"I used to enjoy being the underdog - but no more," she said.
Help find the 2025 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero by nominating someone you admire.
The only way someone can be considered for the annual awards, which were first presented in 1960, is if a member of the public nominates them.
Nominate online at australianoftheyear.org.au. Nominations close at midnight on July 31.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year Dr Katrina Wruck has revealed the life-changing impact of the award since she received the honour just over five months ago in Canberra.
Being awarded such a prestigious title finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things. And that I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy, but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
Dr Wruck, 30, is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since Dr Wruck received the Young Australian of the Year award, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Young Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said. "Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until July 31.
Dr Wruck urged people to put forward someone they knew for the awards.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE NOW!
Dr Wruck said she was now busier than ever, juggling her academic work with Australian of the Year commitments.
Trying to be a public person while being neurodiverse had been a challenge - but also a revelation.
She said "masking" had in the past been a fallback position - hiding her true self to cope. But that was changing since she had been thrust into the national spotlight.
"I've kind of started taking that mask off a lot more, which has actually been really helpful because it's actually really draining to wear a mask - as in trying to assimilate to everyone's expectations of you," she said.
READ THEIR STORIES
Being named Young Australian of the Year also helped to banish her "impostor syndrome":
"It's incredibly validating to get this kind of recognition and to be able to talk to more people and spread my message to a whole range of audiences, but importantly to Indigenous students, young women and young neurodivergent people."
In the months since she was handed her award by the Prime Minister in Canberra, Dr Wruck had received some heartfelt feedback.
"I got an email from a student who asked if she could do her speech - which was about an Australian hero - on me," she said.
"This young girl actually sent me the speech and it was so beautiful."
Now, as the Young Australian of the Year with the respect of a nation behind her, Dr Wruck has also had to change her mindset.
"I used to enjoy being the underdog - but no more," she said.
Help find the 2025 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero by nominating someone you admire.
The only way someone can be considered for the annual awards, which were first presented in 1960, is if a member of the public nominates them.
Nominate online at australianoftheyear.org.au. Nominations close at midnight on July 31.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year Dr Katrina Wruck has revealed the life-changing impact of the award since she received the honour just over five months ago in Canberra.
Being awarded such a prestigious title finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things. And that I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy, but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
Dr Wruck, 30, is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since Dr Wruck received the Young Australian of the Year award, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Young Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said. "Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until July 31.
Dr Wruck urged people to put forward someone they knew for the awards.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE NOW!
Dr Wruck said she was now busier than ever, juggling her academic work with Australian of the Year commitments.
Trying to be a public person while being neurodiverse had been a challenge - but also a revelation.
She said "masking" had in the past been a fallback position - hiding her true self to cope. But that was changing since she had been thrust into the national spotlight.
"I've kind of started taking that mask off a lot more, which has actually been really helpful because it's actually really draining to wear a mask - as in trying to assimilate to everyone's expectations of you," she said.
READ THEIR STORIES
Being named Young Australian of the Year also helped to banish her "impostor syndrome":
"It's incredibly validating to get this kind of recognition and to be able to talk to more people and spread my message to a whole range of audiences, but importantly to Indigenous students, young women and young neurodivergent people."
In the months since she was handed her award by the Prime Minister in Canberra, Dr Wruck had received some heartfelt feedback.
"I got an email from a student who asked if she could do her speech - which was about an Australian hero - on me," she said.
"This young girl actually sent me the speech and it was so beautiful."
Now, as the Young Australian of the Year with the respect of a nation behind her, Dr Wruck has also had to change her mindset.
"I used to enjoy being the underdog - but no more," she said.
Help find the 2025 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero by nominating someone you admire.
The only way someone can be considered for the annual awards, which were first presented in 1960, is if a member of the public nominates them.
Nominate online at australianoftheyear.org.au. Nominations close at midnight on July 31.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year Dr Katrina Wruck has revealed the life-changing impact of the award since she received the honour just over five months ago in Canberra.
Being awarded such a prestigious title finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things. And that I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy, but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
Dr Wruck, 30, is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since Dr Wruck received the Young Australian of the Year award, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Young Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said. "Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until July 31.
Dr Wruck urged people to put forward someone they knew for the awards.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE NOW!
Dr Wruck said she was now busier than ever, juggling her academic work with Australian of the Year commitments.
Trying to be a public person while being neurodiverse had been a challenge - but also a revelation.
She said "masking" had in the past been a fallback position - hiding her true self to cope. But that was changing since she had been thrust into the national spotlight.
"I've kind of started taking that mask off a lot more, which has actually been really helpful because it's actually really draining to wear a mask - as in trying to assimilate to everyone's expectations of you," she said.
READ THEIR STORIES
Being named Young Australian of the Year also helped to banish her "impostor syndrome":
"It's incredibly validating to get this kind of recognition and to be able to talk to more people and spread my message to a whole range of audiences, but importantly to Indigenous students, young women and young neurodivergent people."
In the months since she was handed her award by the Prime Minister in Canberra, Dr Wruck had received some heartfelt feedback.
"I got an email from a student who asked if she could do her speech - which was about an Australian hero - on me," she said.
"This young girl actually sent me the speech and it was so beautiful."
Now, as the Young Australian of the Year with the respect of a nation behind her, Dr Wruck has also had to change her mindset.
"I used to enjoy being the underdog - but no more," she said.
Help find the 2025 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero by nominating someone you admire.
The only way someone can be considered for the annual awards, which were first presented in 1960, is if a member of the public nominates them.
Nominate online at australianoftheyear.org.au. Nominations close at midnight on July 31.
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