Transgender teen Georgie Stone has been named the 2018 Victorian Young Australian of the Year.

The Melbourne teen has been a trailblazer for others through her tireless advocacy work for trans teens. She made history when, at 10 years old, she became the youngest person in Australia to be granted permission by the courts to take hormone blockers.

The landmark case in the Family Court of Australia was one of many battles Georgie, 17, has fought in her young life.

Georgie and her twin brother Harry were born in 2000, but from a very young age Georgie expressed clearly that she was a girl.

She began seeing specialist doctors at the RCH,  at the age of seven after she became very distressed about her gender identity.

By the age of eight she began a social transition. Georgie experienced bullying and an unsupportive school environment. She was placed in unsafe situations where her parents were unable to protect her, so they decided to move to a more supportive school. Georgie was then able to use the female only spaces and wear the girl’s uniform with support from her school.

On receiving the award, Georgie said: “Winning this award means that young trans people, like me, are being represented and acknowledged in society. I hope that young trans people take comfort in knowing that Australia is becoming more accepting of diversity. That we can be proud of who we are and be celebrated means so much.”