Megan Gilmour doesn’t know who nominated her, but the 2025 ACT Australian of the Year is grateful it puts a spotlight on children who miss school when they’re sick.

The other nominees in her category were scientist and Light House Architecture and Science founder Jenny Edwards, Disability Leadership Institute founder Christina Ryan and The Healthy Tradie Project founder Philippa Seldon.

When her son, Darcy, survived a traumatic illness, Ms Gilmour vowed to support the 1.2 million Australian children at risk of missing school due to chronic medical and mental conditions.

So, she co-founded MissingSchool to keep these students connected to school by learning alongside their peers, from hospital or home.

Ms Gilmour received the accolade at a ceremony at Canberra National Gallery of Australia earlier this month.

“I am immensely grateful for the honour of the award and to the person or people who took the time to nominate me,” Ms Gilmour said.

“I am overwhelmed and thrilled to have the opportunity to spotlight these children who face not only medical and mental challenges but also the effect that it has on their education and school attendance.”

When not working, Ms Gilmour spends time with her family or goes for walks with friends.

“The greatest most important thing to me is my family,” she said.

Darcy was 10 years old when he became ill. Ms Gilmour said her son received three bone marrow transplants in 2010 and underwent two years of “brutal” medical treatment to save his life. Darcy’s sister Mia was almost 14 at the time.

The two years were spent in Sydney where the family lived at a Ronald McDonald House Charities home.

“Mia went through the trauma and mental health impacts of that as well – siblings are often forgotten,” Ms Gilmour said.

She said these experiences growing up influenced the work they do today. Mia is now 27 and Darcy is 23.

“They both work in organisations that support children with special needs,” Ms Gilmour said.

“That was such a pivotal and transformational moment in their lives and their purpose. How it has shaped their purpose and lives is fundamental to the choices they are making.”

Ms Gilmour grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney until she was headhunted for a job in Canberra in early 2008 as a senior consultant in health and education with a company that focused on global development.

She said while the family intended to return to Sydney at “some point” after they were in Sydney for Darcy’s treatment, they decided to remain in Canberra to allow Mia to settle back into school.

“It also highlights the resilience of the children that go through these things and how they get on with what they’ve got to do – I really want to shine a light on that,” Ms Gilmour said.

“Children are just so incredible. We need to create an environment where children have a life worth living.

“We need to have early intervention to recognise they’re in a traumatic situation where their normal life has disappeared.

“We need to try and maintain as much of that normalcy and continuity as possible.”

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