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Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt plans to spend the next 12 months teaching children to appreciate the skin they are in.

The writer and documentary maker wants to shift the way people - young and old - think about the way they look.

"We need to get this right for every Australian, especially our children," she said.

"The time is now to have a national conversation about how we feel about our bodies, because it's not our life's purpose to be at war with it."

Ms Brumfitt wants school curriculums to include body positivity lessons and resources to ensure children learn how to love their bodies from an early age.

The South Australian was honoured for her work leading the Body Image Movement.

Her 2016 documentary Embrace, which has been seen by millions around the world, explored why women hated their bodies as well as her own journey of acceptance.

That work led to a companion documentary for children, as well as parenting books and research hubs on the subject.

Another project Ms Brumfitt hopes to tackle is the final film in the Embrace trilogy about male body positivity.

She said men needed to be included in the movement because they also faced body image challenges.

"We weren't born into the world hating our bodies. It's something the world has taught us," she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said her appointment was already helping people come forward.

Mr Albanese said a lifelong friend texted him last night revealing her story.

"Someone who I'm very close to, who indicated to me that when they were young, when they were a teenager, they ended up in the children's hospital due to an eating disorder," he said.

"Someone who was bullied on the basis of their body and their shape and that had a real impact."

The prime minister said the focus on encouraging people to love their bodies was timely.

"There are cowards who hide behind social media anonymity, prepared to make judgements. There's so much pressure on people with unrealistic expectations as well," he said.

"Taryn's message, which is very clear, is just love who you are and love your body, is a message for everyone."

He said the body image campaigner would make an enormous difference, just as her predecessor Dylan Alcott helped raise the visibility of people with a disability over the past 12 months.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he was proud Ms Brumfitt had been recognised for her work and the message she conveyed.

He said there would be plenty of parents and young inspired by her bravery in the way she stood up to "despicable individuals" who posted comments of hate.

Other winners this year included Indigenous activist Tom Calma, who took out Senior Australian of the Year, Socceroo and refugee advocate Awe Mabil was named Young Australian of the Year and Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh received the Local Hero award.

© AAP 2023

Citizenship ceremonies, celebrations, flag raisings and protests have all marked Australia Day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley met with Indigenous elders for a private smoking ceremony as official commemorations kicked off around the nation.

The pair were welcomed with military salutes at the flag-raising and citizenship ceremony in Canberra.

Crowds gathered to watch as Alinta Barlow and the Luminescence Children's Choir sang the national anthem first in English and then in the local Indigenous Ngunnawal language.

That was followed by a 21-gun salute that rang out over Lake Burley Griffin as a Seahawk SH-60R helicopter flew the Australian flag overhead.

Mr Albanese said it was the nation's great pride to have 60,000 years of Indigenous culture and history.

"Today is a difficult day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and that is acknowledged," he said.

"Let us all recognise the unique privilege we have to share this continent with the world's oldest continuous culture."

Canberra's Aunty Violet Sheridan used her welcome to country to call for unity.

"I'm a proud Ngunnawal Aboriginal woman but I'm also a proud Australian," she said.

"I want us to come together."

But just kilometres down the road in Canberra's centre, Indigenous activists are protesting "Invasion Day" as they march towards the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.

Protest leaders are calling for a focus on sovereignty, treaty and truth-telling.

Governor-General David Hurley said Australia had become a country to be proud of since Captain Arthur Phillip landed at Sydney Cove in 1788, one made stronger by the history, traditions and culture of Indigenous people.

"Our individual identities and stories weave together into a modern, diverse nation of people," he said.

"That is worth celebrating. Yes, there are many challenges and yes, we don't agree on everything.

"We do however work hard, look out for each other and are not afraid to take on the big challenges."

Millions of Australians will mark the holiday through celebration, commemoration or protest.

Events in Sydney began at dawn with a projection on the Opera House by Kamilaroi woman and artist Rhonda Sampson acknowledging the important role of women around Sydney Cove before Captain Phillip's arrival.

It was followed by a smoking ceremony at Barangaroo, held for the 20th year to celebrate the culture and language of Indigenous people.

A traditional ferry race across the harbour will follow later on Thursday.

The Andrews government in Victoria has cancelled the annual street parade through Melbourne, choosing to focus on local gatherings.

But a 21-gun salute will occur at midday at the Shrine of Remembrance followed by the RAAF Roulettes city fly-over.

For many people, Australia Day will be business as usual.

Deloitte, KPMG, CSL and other large companies have allowed employees to work on Australia Day and take a day of leave at another time as part of their flexible cultural leave arrangements.

Invasion Day or Survival Day rallies will be held in all capital cities, providing a visual reminder of opposition to the public holiday.

Polling from conservative think-tank the Institute of Public Affairs suggested three-and-a-half times more Australians support Australia Day remaining on January 26 than those who were opposed.

But support decreases among younger age groups. Among 18-to 24-year-olds, only 42 per cent were in favour of maintaining the day compared to 30 per cent against.

© AAP 2023

The 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt has vowed to use her new platform to share her body positive message with one million school children in the next 12 months.

The South Australian documentary maker and body image activist said she wanted to shift the way people - young and old - think about the way they look.

"We need to get this right for every Australian, especially our children," she told ABC News on Thursday.

"We've got 28,000 days on the planet - if we're really lucky - and the time is now to have a national conversation about how we feel about our bodies, because it's not our life's purpose to be at war with it."

Ms Brumfitt wants school curriculums to include body positivity lessons and resources to ensure children learn how to love their bodies from an early age.

"We're saying to the government of Australia, policymakers, lawmakers: we know what to do to fix this issue of body image," she said.

"Let us help you and let us help every Australian."

The writer and director was honoured for her work leading the Body Image Movement, which aims to teach people to love the skin they're in.

Her 2016 documentary Embrace, which has been seen by millions around the world, explored why women hated their bodies as well as her own journey of acceptance.

That work led to a companion documentary for children, as well as parenting books and research hubs on the subject.

Another project Ms Brumfitt hopes to tackle is the final film in the Embrace trilogy about male body positivity.

She said men needed to be included in the movement as they also faced body image challenges.

"This is an issue for everybody, globally," she told ABC Radio in a separate interview.

"We weren't born into the world hating our bodies. It's something the world has taught us."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian of the Year honour was perfectly timed.

"Unfortunately it must be said we all know people who have been impacted by body-image issues, some in the most drastic way possible," Mr Albanese said at the awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

"Taryn will make an enormous difference, just as Dylan Alcott has been an extraordinary Australian of the Year over the last 12 months."

Other winners included Indigenous activist Tom Calma, who took out Senior Australian of the Year, while Socceroo and refugee advocate Awe Mabil was named Young Australian of the Year and Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh received the Local Hero award.

© AAP 2023