General News
29 July, 2023
First Nations health at heart of UNICEF’s new young ambassador
FIRST Nations social justice will be the focus for new UNICEF Australia young ambassador Cyril Sajio.
The 22-year-old fourth-year medical student is one of nine young ambassadors to join UNICEF’s 18-month program for aspiring young advocates from around the nation.
Mr Sajio has had a nomadic childhood. He spent his early years in India and Egypt, before moving to Australia where he has lived in five states. He currently calls Far North Queensland home and in his role as a young ambassador he will focus on First Nations social justice.
“While studying medicine, I have been living in parts of regional Queensland with high Indigenous populations,” Mr Sajio said.
“In this time and during my degree placements, I have seen the inequities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to face,” he said.
“I have noted the lack of representation of First Nations people in the healthcare system and the impact this has on First Nations people’s health outcomes.
“I want to use my time as a UNICEF Australia young ambassador to engage more young people in conversations about global health, rural and remote health outcomes and the barriers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience in accessing key social services.
“The protection and empowerment of children is one of the most important investments that society can make and I believe that organisations like UNICEF Australia play a critical role in ensuring that investment is made.”
During the program, the young ambassadors will be trained in leadership, advocacy, communication, and how to engage meaningfully with children and young people as part of a consultation process.
UNICEF Australia chief executive officer Tony Stuart said the organisation had a strong belief that the views of young people must be included in decision-making processes on issues that impact them.
“The purpose of UNICEF Australia’s young ambassador program is at the heart of everything we do – to hear from a wide range of young people and provide an avenue for them to be heard by decision makers,” he said.
“We know the applicants already have a strong interest in digital wellbeing, climate change and First Nations social justice and over the next 18 months they will hear from other young people of varying backgrounds from around Australia on these topics.”
