Defender Awards Crown Australian Skin Charity Winner
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If you enjoy the idea of a stout, unapologetic four by four being handed to a small charity so it can do proper good in the world, then you will love this. Defender has picked one of seven global winners in its very first Defender Awards, and the Australian victor is a grassroots health charity that has spent years hunting down skin cancer in the places most people forget exist.
The Australian Winner
The winning organisation, Skin Check Champions, runs Project Check Mate and has been quietly relentless for more than a decade. They have carried out around 25,000 skin checks in remote communities, flagged roughly 600 suspected melanomas and identified some 1,800 non-melanoma skin cancers. They lean on AI tools to help nurses spot trouble early and build local healthcare networks so doctors in high-risk areas get the training they need. The Defender 4×4 will become the tow vehicle for a mobile clinic, tackling rough rural tracks so the team can reach more people. The $200,000 bursary and mentorship will fund the charity’s operations for the next two years and help scale what already works.
What The Awards Offer
The Defender Awards were created to shine a spotlight on small charities and non-profit projects that get things done at a local level. Winners receive a Defender vehicle, a $200,000 bursary and ongoing mentoring from a community of experts. The programme represents a multi-million dollar commitment from the brand and is intended to support pioneers in conservation, humanitarian work and community action who are facing daunting problems with practical solutions.
How Winners Were Chosen
Judges sifted through an initial longlist to produce 56 strong finalists, then whittled that down to seven winners from around the world. Entries were judged on how well they matched the category they entered, the demonstrable impact of the project, the level of innovation in how they operate and whether a rugged Defender would genuinely amplify their work. The panel was international and included conservation specialists and seasoned operators from across the globe.
The Bigger Picture
This is not a photo op. Defender’s involvement is rooted in a long history of supporting humanitarian and conservation causes, and the awards are an extension of that. The point is simple: give capable people the right tools, back them with funds and expertise, and watch them do what governments often cannot. Today it is an Australian charity getting a proper helping hand. Over the coming weeks the rest of the global winners will be revealed, each chosen because they are already making a meaningful difference and have the potential to do far more with the right support.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
