As a globally renowned expert on vaccine hesitancy, some of Julie Leask's greatest insights have come from close to home.

Many of those close to her don't support vaccination and she believes their perspectives have helped inform the way she advises governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and other United Nations agencies to encourage immunisation take-up.

She first saw the benefits of disease prevention and health communication up close as a nurse and midwife at the start of her career, before becoming a familiar voice at the height of COVID-19, never afraid to tackle the big issues.

"I've learned to manage controversy because I've had to sort of live it," Prof Leask told AAP.

"Being careful and kind is a great response to when there's big fights about topics in the public arena."

Prof Leask has been appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day Honours List revealed on Thursday.

She is one of 38 medical professionals recognised, on a list which includes former Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton.

"This is recognition of the extraordinary work of thousands in Public Health in Victoria," the now-director of health and biosecurity at the CSIRO said in a statement when approached about his honour.

"(Recognition) of the amazing value of their work, their passion, and their deep commitment to the health of Victorians - indeed, Australians - especially those most in need."

Four decades ago, Fiona Wood met a young patient scarred for life after being burnt by hot coffee.

That chance encounter influenced her decision to become a burns expert and plastic surgeon, going on to become the co-inventor of spray-on skin and director of Western Australia's burns service.

The 2005 Australian of the Year said her appointment as an Officer (AO) of the Order caused her to reflect on all her patients, fellow researchers and members of the public who donated money that made her work possible.

"The inspiration and motivation really is around seeing people come through this suffering with extraordinary energy, trying to work out why some people do so well and why people do so badly," she said.

"There are people that will always be with me, that have changed the way I look at things and the way I've tried to approach the research."