National Youth Ambassador Program 2008

To become Research Australia's National Youth Ambassador for Health Research was a great honour and one that I will always remember.  It’s very rare to find an opportunity for teens that have a strong passion for medical research to get their voice heard by a national company, that is why I leaped at the chance to be part of the Youth Ambassador program.  The ultimate motivation for me to enter this competition, was the prospect of conversing with some of Australia’s top medical research personnel.  
Francesca Dudas, Research Australia National Youth Ambassador 2008

In 2008 the National Youth Ambassador program reached over 2,057 schools Australia wide and over 121 students from 63 schools participated in the program.

The State Winners joined a teleconference to discuss their insights into the health challenges facing our youth and called for a greater commitment from the current generation to invest in the future of the next.   The communiqué developed from the teleconference was issued to the media and letters were sent to targeted National and State members of parliament.

Youth Ambassador winners also had an opportunity to participate in various media interviews, a mentoring program with researchers from member universities and institutes and school visits.  A nationwide media campaign captured radio, print and television interest.  Download Media Coverage Collage 2008, PDF 904KB

The 2008 winners of the essay based competition were:

Francesca Dudas from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Grammar School has been named as the first National Research Australia Youth Ambassador for Health and Medical Research.  

Madeleine Barrow from the Mac. Robertson Girls High School in Victoria was named the runner up.

We also congratulate the State Winners:

• NSW State Winner - Sonya Kathryn Marshall (Year 9) - James Ruse Agricultural High School
• ACT State Winner - Julian Olsen (Year 10) - Marist College
• VIC State Winner - Madeleine Margaret Barrow (Year 10) - The Mac. Robertson Girls High School
• SA State Winner - Miranda Van Heuven (Year 9) - Seymour College
• QLD State Winner - Francesca Antonia Dudas (Year 10) - Sunshine Coast Grammar School
• WA/NT State Winner - Alasdair Crispin Penman (Year 9)-Murdoch College
• TAS State Winner - Madeline Stokes (Year 10) -St Mary's College

Our National Youth Ambassador for Health Research received a  Toshiba Portege M700 Tablet Notebook PC valued at almost $4,000 and the runner up received a Video IPOD, but the real reward was the opportunity to meet people working in health and medical research now, and to influence the priorities which will impact their generation and those to come.
 
You can still post your thoughts @ http://resasweetscience.blogspot.com/

For more information about the 2008 program Download Research Australia National Youth Ambassador Flyer


Researchers involved in the Youth Ambassador 2008 Mentoring Program

The Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (VNI) provided 3 winners and 1 participant from the Youth Ambassador 2007-2008 programs, with a unique health and medical research experience. 

During November 2008, four Victorian high school students were involved in shadowing the research of four VNI Neurotrauma Fellowship recipients.  The event was very rewarding for the researchers involved and offered a great deal of insight and inspiration to a unique group of emerging young researchers.  Find out more (PDF 99KB)


“I found the experience to be very satisfying.  This is a wonderful activity!  I was very proud to have the chance to show people the amazing technology that, and people whom, I am so fortunate to work with, and the chance (hopefully!) to inspire others to become involved in brain injury and depression research.”  Dr Jerome Maller, Neuroscientist in the Brain Stimulation and Neuroimaging Laboratory at the Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre. 

“It was fantastic to meet young people who are idealistic about learning and what they could do.  Similarly, it is refreshing to have people query your work and to have to explain what it is that you do in layman’s terms.”  Dr David Berlowitz, Research Physiotherapist at the Institute for Breathing and Sleep.

Students involved in the National Youth Ambassador Program 2008

“I relished the chance to observe a senior physiotherapist conducting his own research, and needless to say, I loved having the opportunity to learn about a field that I hadn’t ever been exposed to!” Madeleine Barrow, Victorian Research Australia National Youth Ambassador for Health Research Winner 2008.

"It was great seeing science in action.  The difference medical research was making was wonderful to see firsthand.” Hannah Layman, Youth Ambassador 2007 Joint Winner.

“This experience was eye-opening – my idea of research did not involve as much enthusiasm and fun as David has shown me.  Prior to this experience, I only had an idea of the more practical side of it all.  Being able to participate in this programme allowed me to see the other side, which is equally important.” Johnson Ja, Research Australia National Youth Ambassador 2008 Participant.

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2008 National Youth Ambassador News

Research Australia's 2008 National Youth Ambassador Program is proudly supported by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science and Toshiba (Australia) Pty Limited.