Em Carey was an ordinary girl trying to experience life to her fullest when she became part of a horrific freak accident which left her completely paralysed from the waist down. Her inspiring story not only demonstrates overcoming adversity, but shows a journey of being thankful and valuing the life you have, not being intimidated or ashamed of your body and who you are, accepting every person for who they are and showing you how to fight for your dreams.
Read More18 year old American TEDX inspirational keynote speaker and Author of "Stand Beautiful". Inspiring young people to embrace their imperfections, stand against bullying, overcome adversity and negative body image.
Read MoreMichael Crossland is an extraordinary young man who has defied the odds of a life threatening cancer to build a life of exceptional achievements. An accomplished businessman and an elite sportsman, his life is a remarkable success.
Read MoreBorn with glaucoma, Derek grew up in Brazil's coastal city of Guarapari with a surf-mad father and two uncles who were professional surfers. His blindness, he said, was never considered a barrier to the ocean. But it wasn't until a present of a surfboard from his father on his 17th birthday that Derek tried riding his first waves. Just five years later, he became a professional surfer travelling the world's most famous surf breaks, often with his coach Magno Passos. Today, Derek inspires young people to push through their adversities to reach their dreams.
Read MoreCampbell was 9 years old when he asked to gift children in hospital with Christmas gifts, in his home town of Hobart, Tasmania,
When told it would cost too much, he borrowed his mother’s sewing machine and started to make toy teddy bears to give to the children. Now in his 5th year, Campbell has made thousands of gifts he sends to hospitals and people in need world -wide
Read MoreJulius Achon was abducted by the Ugandan Rebel Army as an 11 year old boy. He managed to escape from his captors, and ran over 300km to reach his home. Julius soon realised that he was born with a natural ability as a runner. It was this talent that led him to compete in two Olympic Games for Uganda.
Read MoreGlen Gerreyn will help change your life.
At age 17 Glen, a champion athlete, was struck by an illness that quickly ended his Olympic dreams and sporting career. He triumphed over every challenge, and shifted his focus to community development. His efforts were soon recognised nationally as Young Australian of the Year for Queensland, Community Service.
Read MoreOlympic athlete Eloise Wellings is passionate about athletics and helping those in poverty.
After realising at the age of 15 that she wanted to make running her career, she committed to training and qualified for the Sydney Olympics at the age of 16 in the 5000m track event. Unfortunately soon after qualifying, Eloise suffered a stress fracture, which continued to plague her career for the following decade. She suffered 13 stress fractures in 11 years, and missed out on three Olympic campaigns due to injury despite being selected for the team, and measured for her uniform.
Read MoreTerrence is an engaging and infectious TV and Radio personality with a unique ability to connect with his audience. He works as a Radio Announcer on SEA FM (Gosford)/HOPE 103.2FM and is a freelance writer for Smooth FM is a regular guest on Channel 7’s “The Morning Show”, as well as a TV presenter on Positive Hits TV/Radio .
Read MoreJoany Badenhorst is an Australian Paralympian who was selected to compete in Para-snowboard cross at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. She would have been the first female snowboarder to represent Australia at the Winter Paralympics, but was forced to withdraw from her event after suffering an injury to her left knee whilst training on the morning of the event.
Read MoreThe remarkable story of Tony Hoang is the subject of a powerful and confronting 2012 SBS documentary “Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta”.
The young Tony, son of Vietnamese refugees, grew up in poverty in the then drug capital of Australia, Cabramatta. Like many refugees from the Vietnam War, Tony’s parents’ hopes of a safe new home for their families were crushed by the heroin culture that overtook the lives of their children.
Read MoreSami made the switch from Alpine Skiing to Ski Cross in 2008 – progressing through the international events until 2011 when she made her first top-ten in a World Cup and in the same year married Australian Cross Country skiing athlete and 2010 Olympian - Ben Sim.
Read MoreEddie is a two-time world skateboard champion and named Skateboarder of the year in 1979 & 1980. Inventing and perfecting several vert tricks throughout the years including the "Elguerial" and the "Frontside Rock-n-Roll", Eddie helped advance and inspire the next generation of skaters that became household names including Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, and Christian Hosoi.
He brings a message of positivity, courage, self-belief and Standing Tall against the negative pressures that surround young people.
Read MoreBrett Murray is the founder of Make Bullying History Foundation and is passionate about spreading the anti-Bullying message globally. He has authored several bookstore young people including 'I Dare Ya!', 'Give yourself permission to fly!' and ' Make Bullying History'.
Read MoreAminata Conteh-Biger is the Founder and Ceo of The Aminata Maternal Foundation whose vision is to improve conditions for women in Sierra Leone to birth and raise their children. The organisation was founded to lift the health and well-being of women and children and improve some of the worst maternal and infant mortality rates in the world.
Read MorePoppy Starr is an Australian skateboard prodigy, artist, and entrepreneur, and has become a popular motivational speaker after her 2014 TedX talk, "The Blurred Lines of Art & Skateboarding." She took 9th as an X Games rookie in 2016, and admits she was a bit starstruck to be competing against some of her favorite skaters. She's fared better in the year since, taking wins at three big contests back home that helped put her on the radar of the fledgling Australian Olympic team, which is preparing for skateboarding's debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
Read MoreAndrew John Edmondson OAM is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers.
Andrew was born and grew up in Sydney as a very active healthy young person with a huge passion for sports and a dream to one day play rugby for Australia. He was just 13 years old when he dived into Coogee Beach hitting a sandbar and shattering the C5 and C6 vertebras in his spine before being told that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Read MoreTalitha is a passionate mental health advocate; a member of the HIMS Australia Advisory Group and the 'Everymind' initiative; encouraging the responsible reporting of mental illness and suicide. Talitha's a proud ambassador for the charity 'Hello Sunday Morning', a program which creates awareness around alcohol dependence. She gave up alcohol FIVE years ago and shared her story on the ABC's Australian Story.
Read MoreEmma is a popular Sydney radio host, recording artist, actor and event MC, and has both MC’d and been a speaker at numerous womens, youth, and awareness and fundraising events for women and children. Her inspiring story of overcoming abuse as a child and now living a successful life with a beautiful young family makes her a popular speaker at women’s events around Australia.
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