Jackson Phillips was named Western Australia’s Young Person of the Year for 2026, on Friday night, at a gala event hosted at the Pan Pacific Hotel in East Perth.
Hear Jackson’s first interview.
Phillips—a proud Knaarla Karla Booja, Ballardong, and Wilman athlete, student, and leader—is in Year 11 and has represented WA at six National Indigenous Tennis Carnivals.
In addition to taking out the main title, the teenager received the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA’s Rising Voice Award, which recognises young people aged 10 to 17 who are making outstanding contributions to their community.
Speaking to Youth Jam’s Luke Sharp on the sidelines of the event, Commissioner Jacqueline McGowan-Jones highlighted the mentorship Phillips provides to younger players.
“The thing that really got me when we interviewed him. He gets to training early so that he can give free coaching to the other little kids. That’s the winner of the award,” she said.
McGowan-Jones added that she sees a bright future ahead for the student in the sport.
“I can see our first Indigenous Australian male superstar player right there.”
Hear more from the Commissioner for Children & Young People.
When accepting the award, Phillips was asked what tennis meant to him, sharing that it represents much more than just a game.
“To me it’s just more than playing sport. It doesn’t matter where you go in the world there’s always a tennis court.. It helps you connect with people all around the world,” he said.
Image L: YACWA
Image R: Tennis West
