1 February 2017
Familiar face adds voice to national issue
This week, 700,000 young people with high care needs across the country have been given a fresh voice with the announcement of Channel 9 personality and Today Show host Sylvia Jeffreys as National Ambassador for not-for-profit organisation Youngcare.
The partnership formalises Jeffreys’ years of support for the organisation in its bid to help prevent young people with high care needs from going into aged care.
Jeffreys was first drawn to the charity for its strong focus on driving change in the disability sector in Queensland. Now based in Sydney, and with the new national ambassador role, Jeffreys feels she can do more to help expand Youngcare’s reach, and help the charity make significant headway to solve the youth disability residential crisis in Australia.
“I consider it an immense privilege to take on this new role with Youngcare; a team I’ve been proud to represent for many years. It is my hope that through my position as National Ambassador I can help Youngcare to achieve meaningful change in the lives of 700,000 Australian families in critical need of support,” Ms Jeffreys said.
“There are great opportunities for progress in the disability sector in this country right now, and Youngcare will play a crucial role in facilitating these changes to the benefit of young Australians with high care needs.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of these young people — their grit and determination is remarkable. Every young Australian deserves independence and dignity and this is what Youngcare is striving to achieve.”
Jeffreys is the first National Ambassador for the organisation and it comes as Youngcare embarks on an ambitious new vision under the direction of its new CEO, Anthony Ryan.
“This year, Youngcare is committed to making a real difference, to start filling the massive gap we have in this country around age-appropriate housing for young people with high care needs,” Mr Ryan said.
“There is a critical shortage of age-appropriate housing for many under the age of 65 and it is simply not acceptable.
“At the coalface, we’ll be working with business leaders, developers, investors, banks, government and the community to progress evidence-based models that will improve this residential crisis. Add Sylvia’s passion and profile to our mission and we believe we can start to make real inroads.”
Queensland-born Jeffreys started her television career with Channel 9 in Brisbane. Since transferring to the station’s Sydney headquarters, Jeffreys has joined the Today Show team as newsreader.
Jeffreys has been working closely with Youngcare since 2014, hosting fundraising events and helping to raise the charity’s profile, and its work, across the country.
Jeffreys’ first official duty as national ambassador will begin from 1 February 2017.
