Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys co-captain and Indigenous mentor, can add another achievement to his growing list of accolades after being named Queensland's Australian of the Year for 2018.

The acclaimed NRL player was recognised during the prestigious awards ceremony in Brisbane for using his impressive sport profile to help Indigenous people throughout Queensland reach their full potential.

Heralded as one of Australia's most accomplished footballers, Thurston has championed Indigenous education through Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education Academy [ARTI].

He is also the face of Synapse's campaign to prevent acquired brain injury in the Aboriginal communities and actively supports the Beanies for Brain Cancer initiative.

Thurston, 34, is also an ambassador for the Queensland Reconciliation Awards and for the Apunipima Cape York Health Council's anti-ice campaign.

In 2017, Thurston helped launch the $9.5 million NRL Cowboys House, a home for 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote North Queensland.

The sporting legend said he was "humbled" by the award, but hopes this recognition will raise more awareness and funds for the Cowboys House.

"I'm very passionate about my culture and trying to inspire the next generation of my culture and young Australians," he said.

"I want people out there to acknowledge our past but also be part of our future as well.

I'm in a privileged position playing rugby league and I understand my role within the community that I have and the impact that I can have on the community and I don't take that lightly."

Johnathan Thurston meets with children from the C&K Koobara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Kindergarten. ( AAP: Darren England )

He will represent Queensland at the national Australian of the Year awards in January 2018 in Canberra, joining a cohort of 32 state and territory recipients of the award from around Australia.

The footballer was joined by a league of other impressive Australians who were recognised during the award ceremony for their significant contribution to the community.

The Queensland Senior Australian of the Year is hearing health specialist and bionics advocate Dr Dimity Dornan, who founded Through Hear and Say, an organisation helping deaf children to listen and speak by training their brains to use implantable bionic technologies.

"Most of all I'm proud of this award because of what it means for women in science," she said.

Queensland Young Australian of the Year is 29-year-old veterans' champion, Phillip Thompson, who advocates for veterans' employment, health and wellbeing.

Queensland's Australian of the Year award recipients, (L to R) Philippa Russell, Johnathan Thurston, Dimity Dornan, Phillip Thompson with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (centre) ( Supplied: Dimity Dornan )

Local Hero is Brisbane children's entertainer and innovator Philippa 'Pip' Russell, the adored host of national children's television who launched Juiced TV, made by kids in hospital, for kids in hospital.

National Australia Day Council CEO, Ms Jenny Barbour, said the Queensland Award recipients reflect the diverse ways in which Queenslanders are achieving and contributing.

"The Australian of the Year Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding Australians — people making extraordinary contributions to our society," Ms Barbour said.

"The stories of the Queensland Award recipients inspire us all to consider how we approach challenges, how we treat others and how we too can make a difference."