More than 1,000 outstanding Australians have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List this year, including father-daughter polar explorers, a former prime minister, world famous actors, journalists, lawyers, local leaders and fashion designers.

Every recipient has made a significant contribution to the community, but all have been shocked at the recognition they have received.

Winners list Companion of the Order (AC): Hugh Jackman, Ita Buttrose and Kevin Rudd Officer of the Order (AO): Li Cunxin, Peggy O'Neal, Natasha Stott Despoja and Clare Martin Member of the Order (AM): Eric Bana, Professor Sandra Creamer, Leigh Sales, Sarah-Jane Clarke, Heidi Middleton, Faith Thomas and Elizabeth Chong Medal of the Order (OAM): Jade and Paul Hameister





"It doesn't matter who you are, where you are from or whether you're known to millions or just a few," said his Excellency General, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove.

"If you have constantly put others ahead of yourself, served tirelessly and made a difference you can be nominated and recognised by a grateful nation."

This is Sir Peter's last Honours List as Governor-General.

"Over the last five years, it has been the greatest honour and privilege to recognise and celebrate over 80,000 recipients through the Honours and Awards System," he said.

Hugh Jackman (AC)

Actor Hugh Jackman is recognised for his contribution to the performing arts and to the global community. ( Supplied )

This year the actor has been honoured with a Companion of the Order, which is the highest of four levels of the Order of Australia.

The 50-year-old is currently on a world tour, but said in a statement he was moved and proud to be a recipient of the award.

Hugh Jackman, Kevin Rudd and Ita Buttrose are among those being honoured with a Companion of the Order. ( AAP: Paul Miller )

He has been recognised for eminent service to the performing arts as an acclaimed actor and performer, and to the global community, particularly as an advocate for poverty eradication.

Jackman said: "As the youngest son of parents who made the decision to immigrate to Australia the year before I was born, this honour is especially emotional and humbling to me.

"I am an immensely proud Australian, and am so grateful for the opportunities I have received by being raised there.

"The countless teachers, mentors, institutions who have supported me along the way are immeasurable, and I will always be in my country's debt."

The Honourable Kevin Rudd (AC)

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has been acknowledged in the Queen's Honour List this year with a Companion of the Order of Australia.

It recognises his eminent service to the Australia Parliament, Indigenous reconciliation, economic initiatives, policy reform and his roles as senior advisor to international organisations.

Kevin Rudd has been acknowledged for his eminent service to the Australia Parliament and Indigenous reconciliation. ( ABC News: Tom Hancock )

Following his extensive work in the Federal Labor Party, Mr Rudd now chairs multiple international organisations, including the Asia Society Policy Institute, Concordia and the Eurasia Group.

Mr Rudd said he declined the same award a number of years ago as a member of parliament because he wanted to make a wider contribution beyond political life.

"I have sought to do that over the last five years through the Asia Society in promoting understanding of the peoples and cultures of Asia, including China, where so much of our future lies," he said.

He dedicated the award to his Indigenous brothers and sisters.

"Since leaving office, Therese and I have established the National Apology Foundation for Indigenous Australians as our own contribution to the important work of reconciliation for which the next step is constitutional recognition."

Mr Rudd said this important work is his continuing focus.

Ita Buttrose AO OBE (AC)

Ita Buttrose was previously the 2013 Australian of the Year. ( ABC TV )

Ms Buttrose has already been the recipient of an Order of Australia honour, is an Officer of the British Empire and was the 2013 Australian of the Year.

This year she becomes a Companion of the Order for her service to the community through leadership in the media, the arts, the health sector and as a role model.

"It's a very nice feeling to have your career, your work, your contribution in the arts and health recognised in this way," she said.

"It's not something you expect to happen but when it does happen, it's a very nice feeling."

Ms Buttrose began her career as a writer for the Australia Women's Weekly.

She went on to become the first female editor of an Australian newspaper and the first woman to be appointed to the board of News Limited.

Earlier this year she was appointed ABC chair by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams becoming chair of the ABC but now that I'm here it seems like an absolutely perfect fit," Ms Buttrose said.

She has worked as an advocate for Alzheimer's disease, dementia, arthritis, cancers and HIV/AIDS.

"My mother brought us all up, my brothers and I, to give back and it resonated with me," she said.

"I could see there's a pleasure almost, in helping others in doing something in your community, for someone who needs a helping hand."

Li Cunxin (AO)

Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet, Li Cunxin. ( ABC News Talissa Siganto )

Li Cunxin is known to most Australians for his autobiography and film Mao's Last Dancer.

Li's incredible life began with being selected as a ballet dancer by the Chinese Communist Party while living in rural China.

He went on to become a principal dancer for the Beijing Dance Academy and he is now vice president of the Australian Royal Academy of Dance and the artistic director of the Queensland Ballet.

"Considering what kind of life I was born into, in the poverty stricken Communist China as a peasant boy, we were struggling to survive — even the basic food was a problem for my family," he said.

"I would never have dreamed to become a dancer let alone have an incredible international career and now being acknowledged in such a wonderful way is I can't even dream really."

In 2014 he was Queensland's Australian of the Year and now he has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing arts.

"I feel excited, humbling, deeply moved, rather surprised too," Li said.

Peggy O'Neal (AO)

Peggy O'Neal has been made an Officer of the Order for her distinguished service to Australian rules football. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

Peggy O'Neal has been made an Officer of the Order for her distinguished service to Australian rules football, to superannuation and finance law and to the advancement of women in leadership roles.

"I was very surprised and very moved actually to think that someone or people behind the scenes had been working on nominating me," Ms O'Neal said.

Ms O'Neal fell in love with the AFL after seeing her first match when she came to Australia 30 years ago, and she is now the president of the Richmond Football Club.

"Over time I just became one of those typical, mad Richmond supporters and my weekends started to revolve around being sure I got to the match and that's still the way my weekends go now," she said.

Along with her achievements in sports, Ms O'Neal is also a leader in the community and in business sectors serving on multiple boards and committees.

Natasha Stott Despoja (AO)

Natasha Stott Despoja has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia. ( Flickr: Clarissa Villondo )

Natasha Stott Despoja has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the global community as an advocate for gender equality.

Ms Stott Despoja was a director of Beyond Blue, is an ambassador for women and girls and a member of the United Nations High Level Working Group on Health and Human Rights.

She is now the chair of Our Watch, a national foundation working to prevent violence against women and their children.

"I share this honour with many thousands of men and women who work tirelessly day in and day out to keep women and children safe," she said.

She said while gender equality had seen wonderful achievements, equal representation in Australian Parliament was an ongoing fight.

"I really look forward to the day that our difference and our diversity is reflected and represented, especially in our Federal Parliament," she said.

The Honourable Clare Martin (AO)

Clare Martin, the former chief minister of the Northern Territory and the only woman to ever hold the position, is being awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Legislative Assembly of the NT and as a community advocate.

Clare Martin has been recognised for her distinguished service to the people of the Northern Territory. ( Supplied )

"We brought a lot of change to the Territory which has underpinned the growth of our jurisdiction," she said.

Ms Martin is now chair of multiple Territory organisations and isn't looking to retire anytime soon.

"Hopefully, at only staring 67 in the eye next week, I still have a lot to contribute," she said.

Eric Bana (AM)

"I was completely 100 per cent surprised and shocked initially and then just plainly, genuinely chuffed," said the actor of receiving his nomination and recognition.

He has been acknowledged for his service to the performing arts and to charitable organisations.

Actor Eric Bana has received a Member of the Order for his contribution to the performing arts and charitable organisations. ( Supplied: Rebecca Bana Photography )

While he is well known for his many screen roles, he has also made a significant commitment to youth issues.

"Growing up in the western suburbs of Melbourne, young troubled men was just something that I kind of grew up knowing and understanding and being surrounded a bit by," Bana said.

For 15 years he has worked with the Youth Off The Streets organisation.

"I just think the way they go into communities and not only the work they do initially but then the follow up of being able to reintegrate former recipients of their charity into their organisation is really amazing," he said.

Professor Sandra Creamer (AM)

Kalkadoon/Wannyi woman and adjunct professor Sandra Creamer has been recognised for her service to Indigenous women and to human rights.

Ms Creamer is the interim CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Woman Alliance which provides national advocacy for Indigenous women and organisations.

Kalkadoon/Wannyi woman and adjunct professor, Sandra Creamer, has been recognised for her service to Indigenous women. ( Supplied )

"I feel very humble about it, it's truly an honour," she said.

Ms Creamer said her drive to work for Indigenous women began when she found herself escaping domestic violence with her children.

"I didn't have a voice at that time, I didn't know where I was, what I was doing," she said.

"But I felt that as I started to grow within myself that I wanted to contribute to human rights and to women and especially working with Indigenous women."

Leigh Sales (AM)

Leigh Sales is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and author, best known as the anchor of ABC's flagship current affairs program 7.30.

Sales has received her first Order of Australia for significant contribution to the broadcast media.

Journalist and author Leigh Sales has received her first Order of Australia for significant contribution to the broadcast media. ( ABC News: Lily Mayers )

She said the award was reassuring given the national focus on journalists this month and their role in holding authorities to account.

"I'd like to hope that what it says, is that people still value having independent, rigorous media because that's what we try very much to do at 7.30 and at the ABC and our audiences tell us that is what they want," she said.

"You come under considerable pressure for doing that kind of journalism, so what I would hope is that this recognition reminds people that Australians do value that kind of journalism."

She said the greatest pleasure of the job was the constant education in the human condition.

"What I feel like I'm always learning, is more about people and the way life is and so it never stops being interesting," Sales said.

Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton (AM)

Fashion designers Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton have been recognised in this year's honours. ( ABC News: Lily Mayers )

Fashion designers Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton, who established the brand Sass & Bide, have been recognised in this year's honours for their significant service to the fashion industry and to charitable organisations.

"It's such an honour to be awarded the Queen's Birthday honour, it's a real surprise to both of us," Ms Middleton said.

"I was completely surprised and really didn't quite believe it but obviously it is very humbling to be recognised for all our work we've done in fashion and also empowering women," Ms Clarke added.

Both designers have independently re-entered the market recently.

Ms Middleton is running a fashion and art atelier called ART CLUB by Heidi Middleton and Ms Clarke has launched a travel focused sustainable collection called SARAH-JANE CLARKE.

Both said their collections feature clothes made consciously, which they described as a new obligation contemporary designers must take on.

"So it's having a really gentle footprint on the earth, really a part of this whole conscious consumerism movement that's happening at the moment," Ms Clarke said.

Ms Middleton said: "It was very, very important that I was able to weave these elements into the business, so it has a sustainable foundation, we use remnant fabric, it's all supporting local industry by being made locally."

Faith Thomas (AM)

Faith Thomas has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to cricket and the Indigenous community.

"I was lying down, just as well, and I said, 'Hey they've gone and got me a medal,'" she quipped.

"And different ones said, 'We thought you had all the medals under the sun'. [And I said] 'No this is a real flash one'."

Faith Thomas (centre) has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to cricket. ( AAP: Tom Miletic )

Before beginning her career in sports, Ms Thomas worked as a nurse and a midwife in communities across South Australia.

"That was good fun, I thoroughly enjoyed bringing all them babies into the world," she said.

But it was her state and national representation in women's cricket that propelled her into the limelight.

She said she hoped her award would inspires emerging leaders in the Indigenous community to stand tall.

Elizabeth Chong (AM)

Chef, author and television presenter Elizabeth Chong has been a leader in Chinese cuisine since the 1960s when she opened a cooking school in Melbourne.

She is recognised in this year's Queen's Honours List for significant service to the hospitality sector and to the promotion of Chinese cuisine.

Ms Chong is recognised for her service to hospitality and to the promotion of Chinese cuisine. ( ABC News: Zalika Rizmal )

Ms Chong said receiving the award was a big shock that took a while to sink in.

"As it settled in I got a little bit teary then because I thought, it is such an honour," she said.

Ms Chong said the award symbolises the respect she has paid to her Chinese roots with the love she has for being an Australian.

"I am perhaps a creature of two worlds and I have been able to embrace that in such a way that now, I suppose I can call myself a special Australian," she said.

Jade and Paul Hameister (OAM)

Jade Hameister and her father Paul completed the extraordinary Polar Hat Trick. ( Supplied )

The Hameister father-daughter duo made an exploration called the Polar Hat Trick covering the North Pole, Greenland and the South Pole last year.

They are both receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia for their service to polar exploration and Mr Hameister is also being recognised for his work in business.

"It's an honour at 18, it's really special and I hope in the future I am worthy of the responsibility that comes with it," said Jade Hameister, who is the youngest person to complete the expedition.

She said her next big challenge is completing Year 12.

For Paul Hameister, who is the first Australian to complete the Seven Summits and the Polar Hat Trick, the recognition serves as motivation to work harder.

"This award is less about looking backward as a recognition for accomplishments to date and more about an encouragement to keep going but with a different focus on doing good things for other people and for the environment," he said.