The appointment of Ambassadors for Children and Young People recognises eminent Western Australians who have a significant role in the community and commitment to supporting children and young people and their families.
There are currently 15 Ambassadors who work with the Commissioner to increase community awareness and understanding of factors which impact children and young people’s wellbeing.
Donna Cross is a Professor with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at UWA, working from the affiliated Telethon Kids Institute. Her research has been instrumental in the development of anti-bullying programs in schools. She is committed to promoting positive, holistic approaches to strengthen children and help develop their resilience and improve mental wellbeing.
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As Founder of the Fogarty Foundation, Mrs Annie Fogarty AM reaches out to children and young people to improve their wellbeing and help them achieve their best through education. Mrs Fogarty and the foundation work with schools to support leadership, strengthen community networks and thereby improve the effectiveness of education.
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Olympian and champion basketball player Ricky Grace has been dedicated to developing leadership and education engagement for at-risk Indigenous youth since 2004. Through the Girls Academy program, Mr Grace has helped equip thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls with the tools they need to engage in their education, achieve their goals and change their communities.
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Dr Robert Isaacs has been working for the past 50 years on breaking down cultural barriers and improving the lives of disadvantaged people, including children and young people. He is committed to improving the justice system and helping to assist Aboriginal people achieve home ownership and housing security.
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As Trustee and Administrator of the McCusker Charitable Foundation, Tonya provides much-needed funding to many organisations working to improve the lives of Western Australians. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth and as a Patron or adviser to many organisations related to the welfare and wellbeing of children, young people and families.
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June's successful campaign for a ban on full-strength takeaway alcohol in the Fitzroy Crossing region lead to significant improvements in the protection and wellbeing of Fitzroy Crossing children, and provided the impetus for other WA Aboriginal communities to take action. Ms Oscar is dedicated to addressing the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the Aboriginal community.
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Dr Donald Payne is a leading consultant paediatrician and a strong advocate for the development of clinical services for young people. He has made significant contributions to the way services for children and young people have evolved through his leadership roles at Princess Margaret Hospital, Telethon Kids Institute, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian Association for Adolescent Health.
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As President of the WA Children’s Court from 2004 to 2018, His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds has seen how children and young people can be affected by their social conditions. He strongly supports alternative paths for young people in the justice system and involving families in addressing justice outcomes.
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Linda is a powerful advocate for law reform, social justice and the rights of women and children. She established the Valuing Children Initiative in 2016 and continues this work to create a greater societal awareness of children and their needs, and ensure that all children are loved, safe and able to maximise on their potential and wellbeing.
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Barbara's influence on WA children and her work in shaping the legislation which established the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People is profound. Her dedication to early education saw her work as a leader in the sector and later as a member of the WA Legislative Council, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access kindergarten and pre-primary education and get the best start in life.
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Casta is an agent of change, mentor, Intercultural Relations Consultant and an entrepreneur. She is known for her advocacy and long-term service for gender equality and empowerment of women. Her work in promoting better outcomes for African women led to the development of the Dare to Dream-Links (D2D-Links) program for mentoring and coaching African youth in WA, in particular young African women.
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Dawn Wallam is a Bibbulmun Wadandi woman of the Noongar Nation who has been making a huge difference in the lives of Aboriginal children through her work in the community services sector for 40 years.
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David's career with the Eagles made him a role model for many young people in WA, especially for Aboriginal children. His drive on the field is matched by his dedication off the field to ensuring that Aboriginal children and young people have strong mentors and role models. Through the David Wirrpanda Foundation, he brings together Aboriginal role models and mentors with young people to deliver tailored programs to help them succeed.
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Russell Woolf is co-presenter of 720 ABC Perth’s Breakfast program. He is eminently qualified to be an Ambassador for Children and Young People as he once was a child, then a young person and now, almost always, is an adult.
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Stephen has led ground-breaking studies of children’s health, education and wellbeing in WA. He is a leading authority on the epidemiology of child health and much of the national policy and services for children and families is strongly influenced by his work. His work is driven by his passion to help children grow into healthy adults.
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Colleen has a long and distinguished career in advocating for Aboriginal health, education and wellbeing in WA, in particular for young Aboriginal people. Her extensive work in promoting better outcomes for Aboriginal people has seen her nationally recognised and awarded.
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Trevor's influence on diagnosis and treatment of childhood developmental issues has had a profound impact in WA. Devoted to ensuring that WA children have the best start in life, he created the WA branch of National Investment for the Early Years (NIFTeY). His experience as a medical professional adds to many boards and institutes dedicated to research into and support of childhood development.
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Fiona's lifelong devotion to the health and wellbeing of children and young people has seen her receive numerous accolades and awards, including being named a National Living Treasure. Her passion and leadership in paediatric research has seen the Telethon Institute that she founded become a world-renowned research facility on child health. Fiona stepped down from the role as Ambassador in October 2017.
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Mr Sam Walsh AO is a non-executive director of Mitsui & Co. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Group from 2013-2016. In 2007 he was named WA Citizen of the Year – Industry and Commerce, and was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2010 for his contributions to business and the community. Mr Walsh was also awarded the Australian Business Arts Foundation’s Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award in 2011.
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Associate Professor Ted Wilkes is well known for his dedication to public health issues, particularly for Aboriginal people. Professor Wilkes is a Nyungar man, with connections to the metropolitan area and the south west of WA.
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