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 13 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 Winthrop Professor with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the 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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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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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 advisor 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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As President of the WA Children’s Court, His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds sees 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 works to involve families in addressing justice outcomes. His leadership in the juvenile justice system has fostered debate around the way in which WA deals with young offenders.
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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 in 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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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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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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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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Russell Woolf is the presenter of 720 ABC Perth’s Saturday Breakfast program on local radio. 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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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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