But she warns there is a long way to go.

The University of Canberra law lecturer was last night named the ACT Australian of the Year.

Dr Easteal serves on the Domestic Violence Prevention Council and her books on domestic violence and rape have had a powerful impact on law reform.

But while she concedes advancements have been made, the challenge still lies in changing attitudes, such as that of women ''provoking'' their rapists by wearing skimpy clothing.

''All of those attitudes are still around, they're just reduced. So if you're a [woman] who hasn't been raped or bashed by your partner you could say the glass is half full, because not as many women are bullied on the witness stand and accused of setting up their own sexual assault,'' she said.

''But if you're somebody who's been sexually assaulted, then by God the glass is definitely half empty, because there's a still high risk that it's going to happen to you, either in court or with the police officers, or with your friends or family. I know people whose family question why they were where they were.''

Dr Easteal herself has been the victim of violence ''You name it'' and while she would like to see violence against women end, realistically she knows it's not going to happen.

''So I look at the criminal justice response to rape and to domestic violence and ... try to change judges', juries' and the community's attitudes.'' She is especially passionate about changing attitudes to partner rape. ''There's a failure to see it as real rape but it's a common type of domestic violence that remains secret and I'm determined to bring it out of the closet.''

Basketballer Pierre Johannessen, 27, was named Young ACT Australian of the Year.

In 2007 Mr Johannessen travelled to Bangladesh and established Big Bang Ballers, which gave disadvantaged children the chance to play basketball.

Disabilities volunteer Julie Grehan was ACT Australia's Local Hero.

She set up Daryl's Den, a craft club for people with disabilities, which offers activities ranging from painting and cooking to computing and woodcarving.

Breast cancer surgeon John Buckingham was named ACT Senior Australian of the Year.

He pioneered the sentinel node mapping technique, which enables diagnosis of lymph node involvement with breast cancer diagnosis.

The winners are now finalists for the national awards, which will be announced on January 25.