Tragedy delivered Rosie Batty to the national stage, but a small gesture of admiration kept her there.
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Ms Batty became the country's most powerful advocate for those who experienced domestic and family violence when she was named Australian of the Year 2015.
The honour came less than a year after her son Luke, 11, was killed by his father in February last year.
Six months into the role, Ms Batty said it had given her an enormous opportunity to create change, even as she coped with her own grief.
"You embrace [the pressure] and you know you've got this period of time that you will never get again and how much of a difference you can make by saying yes to the events you know are really important.
"Yes you can feel very overwhelmed at times, but the energy you get from the amazing responses that people give you and the knowledge your words are helping to bring about change inspires you and I wouldn't have it any other way.
"It is life-changing, and you can change a lot of lives."
Ms Batty said the nomination had been "a powerful thing" and was humbled by those who put her forward.
One of them was Canberra's Christine Evans, who nominated Ms Batty after being struck by "how she was coming through her own tragedy with a consciousness of helping others".
Ms Batty was joined by Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray and Senior Australian of the Year Jackie French to launch next year's awards at Parliament House on Thursday.
Ms French, a children's author and advocate for young people with learning difficulties, said the awards showed there was no end to the changes one person could make.
"There are so many people out there doing extraordinary things. Just nominating them is a way of saying 'What you are doing is inspiring. Please do not stop'," Ms French said.
Nominations are now open for the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards, sponsored by Fairfax Media, and winners will be announced at Australia Day celebrations in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council chairman Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, said winners were a source of inspiration and national pride.
"It gives a face to all those Australians, no matter where they are in our country and no matter what communities they're in, who are doing so much for their community.
"I would urge every Australian to take the one or two minutes that it takes to nominate someone they believe is worthy of recognition."
Thousands of nominations will be whittled down to 128 finalists from each state and territory in the next few months.
The 32 state and territory winners across four categories become national finalists for the Australian of the Year Awards.
Nominations open at australianoftheyear.org.au, or by phoning 1300 655 193 before August 3 this year.
