Our key stakeholders and partners

There’s no better example of determination than the commitment of our supporters, donors, ambassadors and fundraisers across Australia. Since we run entirely on voluntary donations, our ability to do the work that we do mirrors their resolve to champion the world’s most vulnerable children when they need us most.

UNICEF works with Goodwill Ambassadors all over the world who are passionate about giving every child a fair chance. They generously give their time, energy and passion pro bono to help raise awareness of our work to protect the world's children, no matter what.

Our Global Goodwill Ambassadors include Serena Williams, Katy Perry and Liam Neeson who have all contributed generously to UNICEF's global campaigns. Discover the full list of our Global Goodwill Ambassadors.

In Australia, we work with dedicated and passionate national ambassadors who share our vision of a better world for children. They offer recognisable voices to our campaigns, provide opportunities to engage new audiences and use their profiles to drive change and create impact for children everywhere.  A huge thank you to each and every one of them for their unwavering commitment, tenacity and support.  

The COVID Vaccination Alliance of UNICEF Australia is supporting global vaccine rollout and emergency pandemic outbreaks by mobilising funding and advocacy resources in Australia.

The Alliance encourages cross-sector collaboration and aligns with the priority of governments and communities in Australia and around the world. 

UNICEF Australia continues to hold full accreditation under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and has been awarded funding to support a range of programs in the Asia and Pacific Region. 

With the support of the Australian community and DFAT, UNICEF Australia contributes millions of dollars to Priority Programs primarily across the Asia Pacific region. In recent years specific support was given to UNICEF programs in the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Burundi.

The Australian Government also provides significant core and non-core multi-lateral funding directly to UNICEF. This is separate and in addition to what is recorded in UNICEF Australia’s annual accounts. In 2020-21 this amounted to $21M. The Australian Government also contributed $130M to the COVAX initiative, for which UNICEF was the implementing partner.

UNICEF Australia is a member of the ACNC, the national regulator of charities which administers relevant legislation governing charities including the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth) (the ACNC Act).

The ACNC provides information to the public about charities, including a charities register which is updated annually. UNICEF Australia information is provided on this Charities Register. 

Ann Hollands commenced as the National Children’s Commissioner in November 2020. The National Children's Commissioners duties include:

• advocating nationally for the rights and interests of children and young people
• promoting children’s participation in decisions that impact on them
• providing national leadership and coordination on child rights issues
• promoting awareness of and respect for the rights of children and young people
• undertaking research about children’s rights
• examining laws, policies and programs to ensure they protect and uphold the rights of children and young people.

UNICEF Australia works collaboratively with the National Children’s Commissioner to advocate for the rights, wellbeing and participation of children and young people across the country.  

The Parliamentary Association for UNICEF is comprised of federal members of parliament and senators who are committed to UNICEF’s mandate and advocate for the rights of children within parliament and in their respective electorates.

The Australian Parliamentary Association for UNICEF primarily supports five goals:  

 provide a direct link between Australian children and young people and their Parliamentarians;  

• create a safe bi-partisan space for Parliamentarians to discuss child focused policy;  
• encourage Australian decision makers to prioritise the needs of children, young people and their families, both domestically and in Australia’s international development program;  
• promote in Parliament and the community the work of UNICEF for children, young people and their families;  
• support and promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), particularly for children experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability, both in Australia and internationally.  

 The current Co-chairs are Sally Sitou, MP and Angie Bell, MP.  

Children and young people are UNICEF Australia’s primary stakeholder. Every child in Australia deserves to be healthy, educated, protected, respected and involved in decisions about their future.

UNICEF Australia works to ensure every child in Australia has an equal opportunity to thrive and survive, no matter the circumstances or challenges they face.

At UNICEF Australia, our 12-month program gives young people aged 15-24 the opportunity to speak up for children’s rights and what matters to Australia's young people. 

Recruited from across Australia, they are trained in leadership, government advocacy, media and communications, and engaging with children and young people.

Young Ambassadors bring their skills and lived experiences to the issues that UNICEF Australia advocates for. We work to ensure every child and young person has an equal opportunity to thrive and survive, no matter the circumstances or challenges they face.

UNICEF Australia is grateful for all the support and engagement that teachers and educators provide, including through the Young Ambassador Program, school consultations and school participation at youth summits. If you are a teacher or educator and want to get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! 

UNICEF is the world’s largest children’s charity working to protect vulnerable children, globally and here in Australia. Run entirely on voluntary donations, we work to improve the lives of every child in need, no matter who they are or where they live.

Established in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II, today UNICEF teams are on the ground in 190 countries working with local partners to deliver lifesaving help and create lasting change. From vaccinating children in war zones to providing early childhood education access in Indigenous communities, your donations help us to protect every child. No matter what.

UNICEF Australia is an independent entity but aligns to the globally coordinated UNICEF strategy, in full collaboration with our international teams, and upholds UNICEF’s worldwide mandate based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF Australia is one of 33 National Committees of UNICEF that come together to represent the private sector to the global UNICEF organisation. There is an annual meeting of National Committee Chairs and Executive Directors and a number of committees to foster collaboration and drive best practice. UNICEF Australia is currently a representative on a number of these global committees.

UNICEF Australia works with local partners to accelerate impact and scale. Together with our partners we address critical gaps and needs of the most vulnerable children in Australia. We are investing in advocacy and programs that are targeted and deliver impact, particularly for children in remote, regional and Indigenous communities. 

Our partnership model allows us to build strong alliances with communities, local organisations, and government partners. Combined with UNICEF’s global technical expertise together we can create system wide reform for children. 

Our partners include: 

• ANU 
• ARACY 
• Royal Far West 
• Parents @ Work 
• Moriarty Foundation (Indi Kindi) 
• Community Spirit Foundation 
• BUPA 
• Pathfinders 

Find out more about our work with children and young people in Australia.

UNICEF Australia values its staff and volunteers and provides a flexible, supportive and values based environment from which to work.

If you would like to work or volunteer for UNICEF here in Australia, opportunities will be advertised as they become available, please visit Our People for everything you need to know about working for UNICEF Australia.

UNICEF Australia engages a range of suppliers through our procurement processes. Each supplier complies with our procurement principles including: Fairness, integrity and transparency; Best value for money; Economy and effectiveness and Sustainability (Economic, Environmental, Social).

In line with our Procurement Policy we ask suppliers to agree to UA’s Child Safeguarding Policy and the UN Supplier Code of Conduct.

We are exceedingly grateful to our generous pro-bono partners for their support and contribution to children.