AMBASSADORS

Scott Morrison is the 30th and current serving Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the Liberal Party since 24 August 2018. He was first elected in 2007 to the seat of Cook, an electorate in the southern suburbs of Sydney. 
Scott grew up in Sydney and continues to reside there whilst performing his duties. Scott is the Parliamentary Patron for the KIDS Foundation, his interests lying in the injury prevention arm of the charity.

Craig “Crowie” Alexander is an Australian triathlete who is the 2008, 2009 and 2011 Ironman Triathlon World Champion and he was born and raised in NSW, Australia. In 2006, Crowie won the inaugural 70.3 Ironman World Championship. Then, in 2008, he claimed the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship for the first time, confirming his triathlon status as “Alexander the Great”. In 2011, at 38 years of age, Crowie achieved what no other man in the history of triathlon had been able to do: he won both the Half-Ironman and Ironman World Championships in the same year.
By winning his third Hawaiian Ironman World Championship, he also claimed a new world record time and a new “King of Kona” was crowned. Craig was humbled when Ironman legend and six-time world champion Dave Scott lauded him as “The first true men’s champion the sport has seen in years.” Along with his wife, Neri, and his friend, John Minto, Craig has worked tirelessly for the KIDS Foundation for more than six years. They have attended camps and raised much-needed funds. Sometimes it is difficult to know who inspires who at the KIDS Foundation. There is a special bond between our ambassadors and the children. As with Craig, children recovering from severe burns trauma know all about facing repeat challenges.

Fabian Coulthard is a New Zealand professional race car driver, currently competing in the V8 Supercars Championship. Fabian began his racing career in karts at only six years of age and it wasn’t long before he reached the pinnacle of the category, where he won seven New Zealand karting titles. He then graduated to the New Zealand Formula Vee Scholarship and finished runner-up aged just 12. The natural progression was then to join Formula Ford, which he did in 1999 when he was 16. He won the 2001 Championship in dominant style, winning 14 of 17 races before he travelled to Malaysia to compete in the Asian Festival of Speed. He drove an AF2000 car to victory at the Sepang F1 circuit winning two races by over 14 seconds.
He then returned to race in Australia and joined the Carrera Cup, finishing third and best rookie in 2004 and crowned Champion in 2005. In 2010 he joined Walkinshaw Racing. However, on the first lap of the 2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, his left-rear tyre blew after earlier contact, spun at 280 km/h through the Chase and rolled six times in the sand trap before coming to a stop. In 2011, Coulthard continued racing with Walkinshaw Racing, driving the #61 Bundaberg Racing Team VE Commodore. He now drives for the DJR TEAM Penske. Fabian’s ambassador role with the KIDS Foundation will see him inspire many young V8 Supercar enthusiasts.

Denise Drysdale is an Australian Gold Logie award-winning television personality and comedienne. Denise was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria. At 10 years of age, Denise began her television career, working in the junior ballet on the Tarax Show. At age 17, Denise joined the new show Kommotion as a go-go girl and became Melbourne’s first go-go dancer. Denise has won two Gold Logie awards for the “most popular female personality” on Australian television and in 2008, Drysdale was awarded the “Australia Day Citizen of the year” award. Denise has been an active ambassador, hosting many successful fundraising events for the KIDS Foundation.

Brad Foster, besides running a successful plant wholesaling business, enjoys endurance events and participates in Ironman. Brad, a loyal and passionate long-time supporter of the KIDS Foundation, set out to raise $140,000, and after reaching that goal, he wanted to do more despite facing his own challenges. Over several years Brad has been battling with the re-appearance of non-malignant brain tumours that will eventually take away his sight. Each year he brings together a team of cyclists that ride distances of up to 1200 km. But the challenge never seems big enough to match the courage and determination of their mate, Brad.

Drew Ginn was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria and is an Australian five-time world champion rower and triple Olympic gold medallist. Ginn won the coxless fours at the Atlanta 1996 summer Olympic Games as part of the “Oarsome Foursome” along with our other KIDS Foundation ambassador, Nick Green. In 2004 in Athens, Drew took out gold again in the coxless pair and again in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. Drew is a motivational speaker and has represented the KIDS Foundation at many functions and events.

Nick Green is a former Olympic rowing champion who was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria. Nick competed in two Olympic Games – Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 – and was also a member of the “Oarsome Foursome”. Nick has been an ambassador for the KIDS Foundation since 1998, actively participating in fundraising events, representing the KIDS Foundation at functions and participating in our education programs.

Becky was born in Newcastle and enjoyed her childhood growing up in the picturesque Port Stephens area in the quiet little town of Anna Bay. It was in Newcastle that Becky’s modelling career began, where she won her first modelling competition and the title of Miss Indy. From there, a combination of on-stage experience and personality transformed Becky into a high-profile swimsuit model. She won a string of other competitions including Miss Bikini World, Miss Swimsuit Australia, and eventually found her break after placing first runner-up in the prestigious Ralph Australian Swimwear Model of the Year in 2009. In 2014 in Auckland, Becky signed with a New Zealand international management company along with 62 other models. Becky has recently taken an ambassador role with the KIDS Foundation, actively working on the events team. Becky’s bubbly personality and experience in helping others to build confidence and self-esteem through the modelling world is sure to inspire our young survivors in their discovery journey.

Steve Moneghetti is an Australian long-distance runner who was born and raised in Ballarat, Victoria. Steve is a personal development consultant with the Ministry of Education and chair of the Victorian review into physical and sport education in schools. Steve was recently named a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Steve received his award for “significant service to athletics as a marathon runner, administrator and mentor to young athletes”. Steve has been the longest standing ambassador for the KIDS Foundation. For the past 21 years he has been active in speaking at fundraising functions, attending school presentations and participating in sporting events.

Susan “Susie” O’Neill is an Australian former competitive swimmer from Brisbane, Queensland. She was nicknamed “Madame Butterfly” when she won the 200m butterfly at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 200m freestyle at Sydney in 2000. Susie has won 35 Australian titles and holds the Australian women’s record for the most Olympic medals – eight in total – with other swimmers Dawn Fraser, Leisel Jones and Petria Thomas. At the 2000 Australian trials before the Sydney Olympics, she broke the 19-year world record of another “Madame Butterfly”, Mary Meagher, in the 200 m butterfly.
Susie O’Neill is synonymous with the KIDS Foundation for many reasons as she shares the same name with our founder and is one of our much appreciated and respected KIDS ambassadors. Susie has inspired many not only as an Australian sporting hero, but for her honest and gentle nature. Susie takes her role as a KIDS ambassador seriously, taking on cycling challenges alongside her husband, Cliff. They have made a great contribution to the cycling team spirit, encouraging other cyclists to go the distance, raising awareness and funds.

Darren is the Australian managing director of Giant Bicycles, one of the world’s largest and most successful bicycle companies. There are many unsung heroes that become involved in the KIDS Foundation, but there is one person that is ever so deserving to be recognised for the loyal and continued support he has provided the foundation, not only through his association with Giant bikes but his personal passion for our charity. Darren has been inspired by one special little boy, Brock, who won his heart. Since 2006 Darren and Giant have been associated with the KIDS Foundation, he, along with his friends and colleagues, has been responsible for raising close to half a million dollars!

Matt was trapped in a car fire in April 1999 at the age of three, he sustained full thickness burns to just over 30 per cent of his body, the worst of his burns being on his face, head and hands. He spent three-and-half months in hospital, which included 33 days in intensive care. After two cardiac arrests in the intensive care unit, the doctors suggested that his life support be switched off and he be allowed to go, but he fought on hard.
Matt has been on a tough and emotional journey, but he is not one to feel sorry for himself. He is now one of the happiest kids around, always quick with a smile and enjoys life. When Matt came to the KIDS Foundation at 10 years of age, he was shy and thought he was the only person that had ever been burnt. But Matt soon learnt there are many survivors with stories similar and even some more devastating. Matt believes the KIDS Foundation has been life changing for him; it has led him to gaining his black belt in Karate and increasing his self-esteem, which has given him the confidence to speak at functions, on occasions in front of more than 2500 people.
Matt completed his VCE and now gives back to the KIDS Foundation by working in the recovery program where he meets new survivors and becomes a mentor to them.

Jason is a former Australian Rules footballer, a 2002 Bali bombing survivor and a coach at the AIS/AFL Academy. In 2010, the Fremantle Dockers announced that the club had recruited Jason as a development coach for three years. McCartney is now currently at the Western Bulldogs as a list manager.
Jason McCartney’s actions during the immediate aftermath of the Bali bombings, and his triumphant recovery from horrific injury, epitomised the human spirit. In addition to being a sought-after public speaker since his retirement from football, Jason is also an AFL youth co-ordinator, a role in which he inspires young, up-and-coming footballers to overcome some of the obstacles in their lives in order to reach their potential – no doubt with his message: “It’s not what you’re dealt in life, it’s how you deal with it”.

The KIDS FOUNDATION is proud to have Chris Scott as an ambassador. Chris is well known for his football career, being a dual premiership player with the Brisbane Lions as well as the coach of the Geelong Football Club and one of only 12 men to to lead a club to an AFL Premiership in his first year at the helm. 

Annie Louey -  Comedian

Annie grew up in Melbourne and has always loved performing. She joined the Victorian Youth Theatre at 15 with dreams of becoming an actor. But a year later, Annie sustained burns to her face and neck after fainting into a fire at an army cadet camp. After leaving hospital, she decided that it would be now or never to do the things she had always wanted to do. Annie entered five minutes of stand-up for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Class Clowns competition and became a National Finalist in 2010. Since then, she has acted with the Australian Shakespeare Company and starred in the Top Class showcase for VCE Drama students. She has performed at the Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Fringe Festivals and is working towards her solo festival debut. Annie was amazed to meet other survivors on her first KIDS Foundation camp in 2016 and now hopes to inspire as many young people as possible to pursue their passions.

Carlton champion and Australian Football Hall of Fame member, Anthony Koutoufides, has become an Ambassador for the KIDS Foundation. 
 
The Carlton great, who now runs Kouta Health & Fitness, is looking forward to working with the KIDS Foundation in his ambassador role. A father of three, Koutoufides understands the importance of educating and empowering children to keep themselves and others safe while still allowing them to be kids.
 
“I am very fortunate to be in a position to be able to assist in the community and KIDS Foundation is a wonderful organisation that is tackling childhood safety through education programs and not wrapping kids up in cotton wool," said Koutoufides.

Dr Harry Video

Melbourne based fashion photographer Rosanna Faraci has developed her passion for fashion and photography, from modelling both locally and abroad over the last 15 years.  
 
What makes her style so unique is the way she blends elements of her professional modelling background with fashion, personal insight and creative flair.  Her images capture the clean, classic lines of the body and individual expressiveness.
 
Rosanna’s extensive industry experience combined with her vivacious personality and holistic, nurturing approach earns the respect and trust of her models and provides an excellent foundation to capture the perfect shot.