Goodwill Ambassadors

UNICEF Australia works with a range of Goodwill Ambassadors to help raise awareness of the plight of women and children worldwide. UNICEF’s celebrities have a wide range of talents and achievements, but they all share a commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide.

GOODWILL AMBASSADORS IN AUSTRALIA 

Tara Moss Bestselling international crime fiction author and former model Tara Moss became a UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. Since then she has hosted the annual UNICEF Australia Year in Review fundraising luncheon three years in a row and joined UNICEF in launching campaigns for corporate partners such as Cartier and IKEA. Ambassador since 2007.

Geoffrey Rush Geoffrey Rush is one of Australia’s most respected actors and has been a committed UNICEF Ambassador for over 10 years. His career has spanned several decades as a theatre performer and more than 20 feature films, including The Pirates Of The Caribbean, Elizabeth, Shine, The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers, Quills and Lantana. Geoffrey has been a strong advocate for children’s rights, lending his talents to UNICEF to record a Silent Emergencies radio campaign in 2006, and the Qantas Change for Good® video and child rights messages in 2009. Ambassador since 1997.

Erica Packer Mother, model and singer, Erica Packer has been a UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassador since 2008. In her role, she has focused her efforts on raising awareness for maternal health and the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. In 2008, Erica launched the UNICEF documentary ‘The Gift’, which was filmed on location in Rwanda. Ambassador since 2008.

Ken Done Ken Done is UNICEF Australia’s longest-serving Ambassador and one of Australia’s most celebrated artists. He is best known for his bright and unique representations of Sydney’s Opera House and other Australian landmarks. Ken is an enthusiastic supporter of UNICEF and over the years has generously donated works of art, attended and hosted fundraising events and been on field trips to Zimbabwe and Vietnam. In 1995, he designed his first range of Christmas cards for UNICEF Australia and in 2006, donated funds from the launch of his '25 Years at the Beach' exhibition. Ambassador since 1988.

The Wiggles Children's entertainers, The Wiggles, joined the UNICEF Ambassador team in 2008, and have helped reach children around the world, particularly with messages on improved sanitation and the importance of handwashing. In 2008, they were instrumental in the launch of the inaugural Global Handwashing Day and recorded the Wash Your Hands song for children around the world. In 2009, they launched The Wiggles Travelling the World for UNICEF picture book, and recorded a series of child rights messages. The Wiggles are made up of Sam, Murray, Jeff and Anthony. Ambassadors since 2008.

Fiona Stanley Professor Fiona Stanley is UNICEF Australia’s Early Childhood Development Ambassador and is an advocate for the needs of children and their families. Named Australian of the Year in 2003, Professor Stanley has worked tirelessly to improve the health and security of youth in Australia, and was honoured as ‘A National Living Treasure’ by the National Trust in 2004. She is Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Chair of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). Ambassador since 2006.

Jayson Brunsdon  Australian fashion designer, Jayson Brunsdon has been a prominent figure in the Australian fashion industry for more than 20 years and has received international acclaim, with a client list that includes HRH Crown Princess of Denmark, Naomi Watts and Linda Evangelista. Jayson has been involved in UNICEF Australia’s Designers United campaigns since 2006 and in 2009, donated funds from his opening gala runway show at Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. In 2007, he visited the Solomon Islands on a field trip with UNICEF. Ambassador since 2006.

Patrons for UNICEF Australia

Thérèse Rein Thérèse Rein, mother of three and wife of former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, joined UNICEF in 2009 as patron of UNICEF Australia’s Maternal Health campaign. Globally, more than half a million women die each year from complications in pregnancy or childbirth. Some 99 per cent of these deaths occur in poor countries, such as developing nations in the Asia Pacific region where conditions are among the world’s worst. Yet we know that 80 per cent of all maternal deaths could be prevented if women have access to essential maternal and basic health services. Ms Rein has vowed to work towards improving maternal and child health and support UNICEF’s work in this critical area.