There are two Tommy Novaks competing on The Voice Australia this season — but only one made it all the way to the Grand Finale. This is the story of the 36-year-old from the NSW South Coast on Team Richard, not the younger Wollongong Tommy Novak who was on Team Melanie C earlier in the season.
After a decade working as a professional musician without ever stepping into the spotlight, Tommy Novak has gone from corporate-gig “sideman” to Grand Finalist — a journey he says began with the end of his marriage.
- Age: 36
- Hometown: Malua Bay, near Batemans Bay, NSW South Coast
- Education: Carroll College, Broulee
- Path: Canberra public service at 18 → settled in the Blue Mountains → national television
- Coach: Richard Marx
- Status: Grand Finalist, Season 15 (2026)
From Sideman to Spotlight
Tommy has worked as a professional musician for the past decade, but by his own description, he’s “always been a sideman” — playing corporate gigs, backing other performers, never the one out front. Making the Grand Finale has visibly shifted something for him. In his own words: “I’ve arrived.”
The Marriage Ending That Changed Everything
Tommy’s path to The Voice wasn’t a lifelong plan — it came out of personal crisis. After joining the Canberra public service at 18 and later settling in the Blue Mountains, the end of his marriage forced him to reassess everything.
“The ending of my marriage forced me to really do some reflecting,” Tommy said. That reflection is what eventually led him to audition — not as a side project, but as a genuine reset.
The Blind Audition and a Full-Circle Farnham Moment
Tommy’s piano-led cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” earned him a four-chair turn from all four coaches. But the moment that’s stuck with him most wasn’t the performance itself — it was what happened afterward, when he discovered a shared love of John Farnham with Richard Marx.
Marx had written the exact John Farnham song Tommy performed for his music class in Year 11 and 12 — almost 20 years earlier. “It’s the full-circle moment of thinking back to Year 11 and Year 12… It ties it all together, which is really beautiful,” Tommy said. He’s described being “still pinching myself” that he got to talk with Marx about it in the moment.
Tommy joined Team Richard.
Richard Marx’s Tough-Love Coaching
Tommy has been candid about what coaching under Richard Marx has actually looked like — and it isn’t gentle. “He’s not there to say the nice things that make you feel warm and fuzzy. He’s actually there to give you the tough feedback,” Tommy said.
That dynamic carried him through the Knockouts, where he performed Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” continuing to push him toward performances with more emotional weight and less polish for polish’s sake.
Journey Through the Competition
| Stage | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Audition | “Landslide” (Fleetwood Mac) | Four-chair turn — joined Team Richard |
| Knockouts | “All By Myself” (Celine Dion) | Advanced |
| Semi Final | “Angels” (Robbie Williams) | Advanced to Grand Finale |
His Semi Final performance of “Angels” secured his Grand Final spot, with Melanie C calling it “amazing” and Ronan Keating telling him he should already feel like a winner in his heart.
Support System: Damien Leith and Family
Throughout the competition, Tommy has leaned on a longtime friendship with Damien Leith, the former Australian Idol winner, for guidance navigating the pressures of a national television competition.
Family has also been central to his story off-camera. During his post-Voice homecoming, Tommy visited Yumaro, a disability support organisation that has supported his sister throughout her adult life — a quieter, more personal thread in his story that hasn’t had much coverage elsewhere.
The Homecoming
Tommy’s rise on The Voice has already translated into real momentum back home. A homecoming show at the Starfish in Batemans Bay sold out within a week of being announced. He also returned to his former school, Carroll College in Broulee, hoping to inspire more young people from the Eurobodalla region to pursue music.
“Since the announcement of going on The Voice, there’s been more support than I had actually anticipated, if I’m being honest,” Tommy said.
Grand Finale Outlook
Despite the spotlight, Tommy has been clear that the prize isn’t the only goal. Regardless of the competition’s outcome, he remains focused on establishing himself as an independent Australian artist going forward.
The Grand Finale airs Sunday, September 27, with the winner decided by public vote. To vote for Tommy, text “Tommy” to 0417 779 677 (voting details and exact closing time should be confirmed against Seven’s official channels closer to the broadcast).
Which Tommy Novak is in the Grand Final?
The 36-year-old from Malua Bay/Batemans Bay on Team Richard — not the younger Wollongong Tommy Novak who competed on Team Melanie C earlier in the season.
How old is Tommy Novak and where is he from?
He’s 36 and grew up in Malua Bay, near Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.
How do I vote for Tommy Novak?
Text “Tommy” to 0417 779 677 during the Grand Finale voting window.
What’s the story behind Tommy Novak and Richard Marx’s connection?
They bonded over a shared love of John Farnham — Marx wrote the exact Farnham song Tommy performed for his HSC music class nearly 20 years ago.
