Since graduating from Nazareth in 2020, Andriana Petrakis has taken her story to new heights and has recently been acknowledged as a nominee for the 2025 SA Young Australian of the Year. As an international tennis champion, coach, and advocate for autism, Andriana has shown that with resilience and dedication, barriers can become stepping stones.
Faced with the expense of traditional occupational therapy, Andriana’s family sought an alternative way to support her movement and social skills, leading her to the path of tennis. Her dedication and talent led her to represent Australia on the global stage at the 2022, 2023 & 2024 Virtus Global Games, the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual disability. Currently ranked fifth internationally and number one in Australia for women’s singles in the intellectual impairment category, Andriana has continued to inspire through her achievements on and off the court.
Andriana now serves as an assistant coach with Tennis SA’s Pathway Program, where she uses her experiences to guide and uplift young people with disabilities, encouraging them to embrace new skills and build connections. Her passion for advocating and creating inclusive spaces has also extended to public speaking, where she shares her insights on autism with positivity and understanding.
We’re proud of Andriana’s strong ongoing connection as part of the Nazareth community, where she continues to share her enthusiasm and expertise as a Learning Diversity Pickleball coach. Her advocacy for diversity was evident from her time as a student, and today she continues to be an inspiration to those around her – students and staff alike.
In a ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Thursday 7 November, Andriana was acknowledged as a nominee for the 2025 Young Australian of the Year for South Australia. Reflecting on the experience, Andriana shared, “The main highlights were that I met the other nominees, a few South Australians who were in the audience, and witnessed the recipient award presentation.”
“I am feeling very grateful, honoured, privileged, humbled, and proud of myself,” she added.
Congratulations, Andriana, on this well-deserved recognition. You are an incredible example of a leader for the world God desires!
Read more about Andriana and her nomination on the Australia Day Awards website: Andriana Petrakis | Australian of the Year
