However his year three of the four contenders in the Australian of the Year category have a common link - they have all represented the country playing rugby league.

But it is Ricky Stuart, Katrina Fanning and Allan Tongue's off-field achievements that have put them in the running alongside disability advocate and entrepreneur Jessica May.

ACT recipients of the Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Award will be announced on Monday 31 October 2016 at the National Gallery of Australia.

Winners will then measure up against recipients from other states and territories in the national awards to be held in Canberra on 25 January 2017.

Jessica May's is being recognised for developing Enabled Employment, a digital recruitment space supporting the 4.5million Australians living with a disability.

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's advocacy for children with autism and his foundation's work building and planning world-class facilities in the ACT scored him a place as a finalist.

Katrina Fanning, the most capped female league player in the world when she retired, has devoted herself to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their involvement in policy-making.

Youth mentor and educator Alan Tongue's rehabilitation programs are supporting disengaged youth and prisoners, and his outreach through football in the region aims to eradicate family violence.

ACT finalists in the Young Australian of the Year award include Alpha Cheng, who has channelled the pain of losing his father, Curtis Cheng, to the hands of an extremist, into uniting Australians.

Cheng, 29, is a vocal gun control supporter and has spoken out against those who would use instances such as his father's death to justify opposition to Muslim immigration.

Fellow youth category finalists include mental health youth advocate and author of The Skeleton Diaries Rachel Stevens, sustainable development activist Caterina Sullivan, and Cystic Fibrosis champion Heidi Prowse.

Contenders for the Senior Australian of the Year award include Philanthropist Terry Snow, acclaimed marathon running coach Dick Telford, community volunteer and amputee Judith McLeod, and environmental champion Wendy Rainbird.

Ninety year old Stasia Dabrowski OAM, who peels 180 kilograms of vegetables to feed the needy at her soup kitchen each week, is in the running for the ACT Local Hero.

Also in the running is founder of ACT Wildlife Mag Peachey, LEGO lover and chairman of Brick Expo David Boddy, and childhood cancer crusader Tash Maguire from Yass.