The first half of 2025 has already been a transformative journey for UNICEF Australia’s Young Ambassadors (YAs). From public speaking engagements and radio interviews to behind-the-scenes work on reports and youth consultations, these eleven young leaders have fully embraced their roles with passion, purpose, and a deep commitment to elevating youth voices through advocacy. Here’s a look at some of the highlights the Young Ambassadors have shared from their first six months in the program.
Ashwini, 17, NSW
Advocacy area: Child and youth engagement
As a high school student, Young Ambassador Ashwini’s advocacy work is grounded in her lived experience and a desire to empower her peers. This came to the fore when she was invited as a guest speaker on a panel on politics and the economy at the UN Youth NSW State Conference. Discussing pressing issues such as cost-of-living and housing, Ashwini spoke of the need for better civics and financial education for young people to ensure the next generations aren’t left behind. But she said the highlight of the event was connecting with over 200 young delegates from around the state.
"It was really amazing to see all these young people my age band together with a shared passion for advocacy and diplomacy. I was able to provide some advice when it came to getting opportunities for advocacy experiences and I learnt about so many new stories, issues and nuanced challenges the next generation faces."
Sian, 23, Queensland
Advocacy area: First Nations Social Justice
Young Ambassador Sian’s experience at the Bandarran Marra’gu Gathering Strength Youth Summit in May was deeply personal and transformative. Bringing together 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth from across Queensland, attendees spoke openly about systemic failures and the need for real, culturally grounded solutions, especially in spaces like youth justice, education, and health. Sian said the summit gave her clarity around her role in advocating for First Nations justice reform and creating space for young people with lived experience to speak, be heard and be supported.
"The YA program has helped me find my voice, connect with other passionate young people, and step more deeply into leadership grounded in culture, truth-telling, and community care."
Todd, 19, Victoria
Advocacy area: Climate change
Young Ambassador Todd’s visit to Northcote High School in Victoria was a heartfelt highlight of the program so far. Addressing 1,600 students and staff, he thanked the school for their fundraising efforts for UNICEF Australia’s Gaza appeal. Todd said it was "truly inspiring" to see how excited the students were to hear how their contributions have helped provide essential support to children and families affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and how it motivated them to continue making an impact.
"My experience as a Young Ambassador has been nothing short of incredible and life-changing; not only have I been able to build upon my advocacy, diplomacy, and initiative in my passion for international relations, climate change, and children’s rights, but also for my interpersonal development."
Max, 19, ACT
Advocacy area: Climate change
Over the past six months, Max has been a strong advocate for elevating youth participation in climate action, from being interviewed by ABC Radio Adelaide to hosting a Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) alongside his fellow YAs.
In March, Max also represented UNICEF Australia at Climate Action Week. Speaking on the panel ‘Towards a COP31 that works for future generations’, the discussion highlighted the importance of establishing youth involvement in climate negotiations. Having grown up in South Australia, a leading state when it comes to renewables, Max stressed the importance of accessibility and inclusion in global conferences. His advocacy is focused on ensuring that young people aren’t just present in climate negotiations - they’re also heard and empowered to shape outcomes for future generations. Without that, Max warns that “COP31 risks being another performance where young people speak their truth right before the adults carry on with business as usual.”
Chelsea, 19, South Australia
Advocacy area: Digital wellbeing
Young Ambassador Chelsea attended the Digital Childhoods Summit, where she gave the keynote address and connected with experts and like-minded young people. The summit brought together different stakeholders including industry, government, not-for-profit organisations, and researchers, with the aim of sharing insights and develop strategies for Australian children and young people in digital spaces. During her speech, Chelsea shared insights from UNICEF Australia's ‘A Generation Online’ report and her own experiences to highlight the benefits and harms of digital spaces to children.
"The Young Ambassadors program has been supportive of both what I want to achieve as a YA both inside and outside of my focus areas as well as what skills I need to achieve those things and overall be a better advocate."
Reede, 22, Tasmania
Advocacy area: First Nations Social Justice
In June, Young Ambassador Reede attended the 2025 Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Summit. A proud descendant of the Trawlwoolway people who hasn’t had the opportunity to grow up on Country, Reede embraced the summit as a learning opportunity to reconnect with his culture and ancestors.
In an inspiring session on youth empowerment, Elders, young people and community members came together to speak about the ripple effect young leaders can have in creating future young leaders and empowering communities. Participants were left with a thought-provoking question from an Elder: What kind of ancestor do you want to be? “This was a question that shaped my experience at the summit and has changed my perspective on advocacy and leadership,” Reede said. “What is advocacy for, if not, to make the next generation's experience better than our own?”
Princess, 18, ACT
Advocacy area: Child and youth participation
The YA program has given Princess a platform to combine her personal faith with her passion to make the world a better place for children and young people. She said getting to participate in a roundtable discussion about child wellbeing with a diverse group of interfaith leaders has been the highlight of the program so far. Attendees shared valuable insights into how their communities are responding to the finding of the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 19, which assessed the state of child wellbeing across 43 high-income countries over the past five years, in areas including health, education and life satisfaction. Princess said events like this are an important step in bringing those voices together and driving change.
"A brighter future for every child can be attained with more accessible mental health support, better educational outcomes, and sustained community engagement. Faith communities, policymakers, and young advocates must continue working together to ensure that no child is left behind."
Lincoln, 24, Victoria
Advocacy area: Climate change
Young Ambassador Lincoln says his most rewarding experience of the program so far has been leading an LCOY in Melbourne. Having grown up in Gippsland, Lincoln knows firsthand the importance of inclusive climate policy, and ensured regional perspectives were heard during the conference. He said of the experience, “It reminded me yet again how committed young people are to step up. We just need people in power to open the door and trust us to lead.”
"That’s what the YA program does so well: it gets us in the room, then gives us the confidence to hold the door open for others too."
Peter, 18, Northern Territory
Advocacy area: Education
From helping to launch UNICEF Australia’s ‘A Generation Online’ report to supporting youth consultations for the flagship ‘The State of Australia’s Children’ report due to be released in late 2025, Young Ambassador Peter has championed the elevation of youth voices in research and policymaking. “The youth consultations are an opportunity for passionate young people to help co-design the report, which is crucial to ensuring that it is accurate and accessible to young people,” Peter says.
"Working on the report has been a tremendously fulfilling experience because I have always believed that learning and progress can only come about from being inquisitive and asking questions. Only by asking young people can we understand their perspectives, experiences and needs."
Layla, 20, NSW
Advocacy area: Climate change
Young Ambassador Layla was surprised to find her advocacy stride not at the lectern, but behind the scenes. “I’ve come to find that being a part of the behind-the-scenes process and often forgotten conversations have been an invaluable part of my journey as a YA,” she said. Getting to work with youth-led organisations such as AYFICE and UN Youth Australia in the LCOY Working Group, as well as seeing engaging materials she had created including an ‘Is it a UNFCCC abbreviation or Pokémon’ icebreaker being put into action at LCOYs around the country, has been deeply rewarding for her.
"Witnessing the transition from what was initially a blueprint into a now fully fledged consultation process and being able to say that I was a part of it from beginning to end creates a feeling of accomplishment that differs from just attending any event."
Charlotte, 22, Western Australia
Advocacy area: Digital wellbeing
Having a deep passion for the digital wellbeing of young people, Young Ambassador Charlotte was excited to get the opportunity to help launch UNICEF Australia’s ‘A Generation Online’ report in March. This included taking part in a webinar panel where she and other Young Ambassadors discussed online issues affecting young people, including screen time, misinformation and AI, always bringing the voices of young Australians to the forefront.
"Being able to express the perspective of young Australians to important stakeholders through this webinar is what [the Young Ambassador] program is all about: giving young voices a seat at the table in Australia. "
Looking ahead
The first six months of UNICEF Australia’s 2025 Young Ambassadors program have been filled with opportunities to learn, lead, and make an impact in areas including climate change, digital wellbeing, and youth empowerment. Each Young Ambassador brings a unique perspective to their role, but together they are forming a powerful collective voice advocating for the rights of children and young people in Australia and beyond. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, there are so many more exciting opportunities coming up for our Young Ambassadors. We can’t wait to see what they will achieve next.
Find out more about our Young Ambassadors Program
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