Senior Constable Bikash Bharati, an Australian police officer of Nepali origin, has received a prestigious National Bravery Award in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also praised his courage and dedication to duty during in the federal parliament.
The Police Federation of Australia presented the honour to Bharati at a ceremony held in Canberra on Wednesday. Bharati works at the Barrenjoey Police Area Command under New South Wales (NSW) Police. He received the award for his bravery during the shooting at Croydon Park in Sydney last year.
On October 5, 2025, he was among the first police officers to reach the scene of the public shooting. Even while under fire, he sent his junior colleague to safety and rescued an injured member of the public.
Bharati said he had never expected such an honour. He came to Australia from Nepal in 2015.
“To be honoured in this way is a matter of pride for me, something I never imagined when I came to this country,” he said.
He made it clear that police work is never an individual effort alone. He said the support, training and trust of the colleagues who were with him at the time made his courage possible, and that he wants to share the honour with all of them.
“It is my good fortune to serve the country and the community that welcomed me and allowed me to contribute,” he said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon also highly praised Bharati’s courage. He said Bharati showed extraordinary bravery on that dangerous day at Croydon Park, without regard for his own life.
“Senior Constable Bharati’s bravery and actions have given meaning to the oath to protect and serve the public,” Commissioner Lanyon said.
