In 2017, Melissa Li, 14, Catherine Zhou, 16, Edward Cooper, 14, and Annalise Pearse, 14, represented three different states, and wrote about
racism and refugees in the mainstream media. They also took to parliament their concerns on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, education, the environment, and drug and alcohol abuse in schools.
Melissa
Melissa Li, from New South Wales, came to Australia from New Zealand when she was nine. She wants more opportunities presented to disadvantaged children, the education gap closed, more equality in gender and more support for marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Catherine
Catherine Zhou hails from Victoria and joined the program to create impact. After volunteering for a refugee legal centre, she realised how privileged she was and wanted to ensure others have the same security she’s felt most of her life.
Edward
Edward Cooper, a basketball player from Victoria, is used to being political and speaking up loud, and is an advocate for encouraging other young people to do the same.
Annalise
Annalise Pearse from Perth believes that education is the most important feature in unlocking people’s potential, reducing climate change, helping those in developing countries, closing the gap between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people, and giving everyone equal rights.
Read the 2017 Youth Ambassadors report
here.