WELCOME BACK TO OUR AMAZING GROUP OF CELEBRITY KIDS HELPING KIDS AWARDS AMBASSADORS IN 2011!!

Andrew Daddo

Media commentator and children's author

Andrew Daddo is one of Australia's most popular television personalities. He started writing for children in 2001, when his first collection of stories, Sprung! was published.  Since then, Andrew has become the bestselling author of 20 books, including the hugely successful picture book collaboration with Emma Quay, Good Night, Me.  Andrew lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with his wife and three children. http://www.andrewdaddo.com/

"The best part about Kids Helping Kids is not winning the awards (which is very cool) but knowing you did your bit to make the world a better place.  It sounds pretty full on, I know.  But meeting the kids at Sorrel in Tassie last year I got to see first hand how much better it makes everyone feel to help out.  And, they won some great prizes."

Steve Crombie

Activist, author and adventurer

Steve Crombie has travelled over a quarter of a million kilometres as an adventurer in his short lifetime. From Australia to the Arctic, the Himalayas to southern India or from Singapore to Sydney, he has done it. Today, Steve spends his days adventuring to other parts of the planet as a documentary filmmaker, author and keynote speaker.

His current projects include his recently sold out book 'Lost on Earth' with Pan MacMillan; and presenting, producing and writing documentaries for Lonely Planet, Discovery Channel and the BBC. In order to motivate others to live their dreams, Steve also works as an ambassador for the Inspire Foundation - creating opportunities for young people to change their world.

Check him out at www.loston.com

"It was an extraordinary experience to connect directly with primary school kids and watch them engage in philanthropic projects with so much empathy and candor. It surprised the hell out of me. These kids know exactly what is going on and they are so inspired to help. It is an honour to be a part of this process.  Greenlands Primary School was hands down the most engaged group of students and teachers I have ever had the opportunity to hang out with. A small crew of passionate and engaged members of the community stepping up to make a difference."

David Wirrpanda

Former professional AFL player and Director of the David Wirrpanda Foundation

David made his debut with West Coast in Round 5 of the 1996 AFL Season, at the age of 16 years and remains the Eagles' youngest ever debutante. By the mid-2000s, Wirrpanda's career started to get on track, and he became a consistent contributor for the Eagles, playing mainly as a small defender in the back pocket or half back flank. At the conclusion of Round 22, 2009, he had played in 227 of a possible 327 matches for the Eagles (including finals), and has scored 131 goals, averaging 16.6 disposals for his career.

Wirrpanda is also known for his community work in helping to improve the lives of young Indigenous Australians, first and foremost through The David Wirrpanda Foundation, which he launched in 2005.  He was named the 9th most influential Aboriginal Australian by The Bulletin magazine in 2007 and 2008. He also received the 2009 award for Young Western Australian of the Year. www.dwf.org.au

"I would like to encourage every student to get involved in the Kids Helping Kids Awards again in 2011, because last year visiting St Lawrence's Primary School in Geraldton was a highlight for me. If you get involved the feeling you get from helping others is awesome. In my work at the foundation I am so lucky as every day I get to experience meeting great kids and helping them to realize their potential  and through this work share my vision. My culture and heritage allows me to have the  confidence to deliver programs and from this I understand the feelings you get from helping others."

Anne Sargeant OAM

Former captain of the World Champion Australian Netball team, netball coach and sports commentator

Anne Sargeant represented Australian Netball for over a decade, 1978 -1988, captaining the Australian Netball Team for six years. Anne's representations have included the Australian Sports Commission, the NSW Australia Day Council, Children's Week, Board Member - McDonald's, School Sport 2000 Committee and Patron of the 1994 Year of the Coach.

Her talents as a public speaker are highly respected and resulted in Anne being awarded the 1992 Communicator of the Year Award by the Public Relations Institute of Australia.  In addition, Anne is a respected columnist, after-dinner and motivational speaker.

In 2004, Anne was named Sydney's Greatest Ever Netballer and in 2006, she was listed in Australia's 101 Best Sports Stars of our Time.  Anne runs the Anne Sargeant Netball Clinics, a community based program directed at coaching junior netballers. She is a patron of Manly Warringah Netball and still highly involved in many voluntary activities. http://www.annesargeant.com.au/  

"My involvement in the Kids Helping Kids award has been absolutely enriching. It was both an honour and a joy to spend time with the students and staff of Keyneton School in South Australia, Sustainability Awards Winners of 2010. Their compassion and effort in recognising and supporting others was motivating and a wonderful example for us all.  SchoolAid has established an invaluable program that cannot help but impact in a positive way on our school children and in turn benefit Australia as a nation."

Sara Haghdoosti

Youth activist and high profile member of Australia's Iranian Community

Sara is a 22 year old Iranian-Australian feminist. She has spent years in the women's movement helping coordinate International Women's Day and Reclaim the Night as well as being on the Young UNIFEM national executive and a management committee of the Immigrant Women's Speakout.

A finalist in the Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year Awards, editor of several student publications and one of the top 10 delegates chosen for the 2020 Summit, Sara is combining her writing and organising skills in the fight to solve climate change.  She was the national recruitment director for the Power Shift conference earlier this year, has appeared on ABC's Q&A program and currently works as a field organiser for GetUp Australia. www.getup.org.au

"SchoolAid is a great opportunity for young people to have a powerful voice in changing the world. The contributions that Australian kids can make to improving the lives of kids affected by poverty, disaster and emotional trauma benefits not only the kids in disaster-affected area, but helps Aussie kids understand the power they can have in making the world a better place. Being a judge for the Kids Helping Kids Awards blew me away.  I knew that I would meet inspiring young people and hear stories about how they were making a difference - but to see what schools were achieving, together as a community not only exceeded my expectation but made me want to step up and do more too."