Women have cleaned up at the annual Australian of the Year awards, with anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty taking the top honour in a ceremony at parliament house in Canberra.



It is the first time in the awards’ 55-year history that women have won in every single category.



The event was a bittersweet moment for Batty, who gained prominence following the murder of her 11-year-old son Luke by his father Greg Anderson in February last year.



“I dedicate this award to my beautiful son Luke,” she said. “You did not die in vain and you are not forgotten. You are beside me in this journey and with me every step of the way.”

Batty’s raw emotional response in the days following Luke’s murder sparked a national conversation about family violence.



“I didn’t realise I’d said anything particularly special or acted in a unique way, it was just what happened on that day and positioned me for a year I never expected to have.”



Since Luke’s death, Batty has become a champion for survivors of domestic and family violence, and has used the media to try and educate people on its devastating effects.



As Australian of the Year for 2015, she has vowed to continue her fight.



“It is about keeping that awareness going,” she said. “I’ll keep pushing and do a lot more, because obviously this year I wasn’t planning to be in the place that I am.”



Jackie French has won the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year award. Photograph: Wayne King/AAP

“There’s a lot of women speaking out but not getting heard,” the Victorian said. “But because of Luke’s death I was heard. I wouldn’t have been otherwise; I would have been anonymous.”



Much-loved author Jackie French, author of 140 books published in 32 languages, has been named Senior Australian of the Year.

French, who is the national children’s laureate, said she was “overwhelmed” to be given for the prize.

“There is also the terror, because when you see what the people last year achieved, you realise that this matters, and can we do it this year,” French said.



But she also had a message for younger Australians on ageing. “I prefer to call it the afternoon tea of life. It’s rather a shock to realise that we are now the custodians of the wisdom of society. That is what is terrifying.

“Forget ‘failure is not an option’. Each of us [nominees] here know that failure is option one to 100. But at least when you become senior, you realise that even if two things don’t make it and one does, you have done very, very well,” she said.

Newly-named Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray is the fifth generation in her family to be born deaf.



Tony Abbott presents Drisana Levitzke-Gray with the Young Australian of the Year award. Photograph: Wayne King/AAP

The 21-year-old Western Australian advocates on behalf of the deaf community in Australia and around the world through leadership programs and human rights work.



In 2014, she became the first deaf citizen to undertake jury duty.



“The Australian deaf community has its own culture and a beautiful language. Its rich history is steeped in tradition, beliefs and values that unite us all. That is Australian,” Levitzke-Gray said.

“Growing up deaf, a lot of focus was put on my ability to speak and hear but what I’m really trying to advocate for is people to see us as individuals with our own skills and capabilities. Just like you,” she said.



Rounding out the awards is Juliette Wright, who was named Australia’s Local Hero.

The prime minister presents Juliette Wright with the Local Hero award. Photograph: Wayne King/AAP

Wright established online charity Givit in 2009. The foundation aims to deliver goods to in-need communities and facilities, such as natural disaster-hit areas and domestic violence and homeless shelters.



More than 126,000 items have been donated since Givit started.

“I’m so honoured to stand among the most amazing, inspiring individuals here today and I’m truly honoured to receive this award,” Wright said.

“The beauty of Givit is that it allows every Australian to be a local hero. By simply donating an item, you can make a life-changing, meaningful impact to someone’s life.”



Prime minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to the winners.



“We honour those who have dedicated themselves to building a better Australia,” Abbott said. “All of them have had a go so that all of us might have a fair go. The Australian of the Year nominees encourage us to be people who live for others, rather than for ourselves.”



“Nearly all of this year’s nominees have faced adversity but they have persevered and that’s what inspires us. So I say to each of them you make all of us proud to be Australian and you inspire all of us to be better Australians,” Abbott said.