Elise Bell Appointed Youth Ambassador

The Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation has appointed Elise Bell to be its first youth ambassador.

Nineteen-year-old Elise is currently studying for a Bachelor of Psychology degree at Queensland University of Technology. She will be actively involved in engaging with young people through the Foundation’s Onwards & Upwards mentoring programs.

Founder and CEO John Godwin said that the Foundation is delighted to appoint Elise to this vital position to empower young people and maximise the benefits of its programs.

“Elise has shown great resilience, and her story is an inspiring one for other young people,” Godwin said.

“Her leadership is vital in ensuring that our programs are designed with young people at the centre — and by them — to ensure that the programs are as relevant as possible to support youth wellbeing and achieve positive life outcomes.”

Elise has been accepted to attend the Youth Summit held in April run by Queensland Family & Child Commission, and looks forward to representing and speaking on behalf of the Foundation.

Elise said that she is really proud to be stepping into this new role as a youth ambassador for the Foundation.

“I care deeply about young people’s wellbeing because I’ve seen first-hand how tough growing up can be — not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and mentally too,” Elise said.

“In my two final years of high school, in the midst of exams, I went through parental separation, toxic relationships, and my biggest challenge of homelessness — from couch surfing, to eventually just living in a tent, having no luxuries of a bathroom, somewhere to simply get ready for school, and of course, my mental health and academics were struggling.”

Elise wishes that the program was running when she felt things were impossible to manage on her own, but has seen the difference it is now making at her former school, Kingston State College, in Brisbane’s south.

She has been actively involved with the Onwards & Upwards program at the school as a mentor and now also as a facilitator, helping to support disengaged young people to achieve positive life outcomes.

“For me, this role isn’t just a title, it’s a chance to be part of something that genuinely supports young people, listens to them, and helps them build real futures, not just survive the present.”

As a youth ambassador, Elise says her role is to bring real youth voice into the room. Not assumptions. Not stereotypes. Not surface-level ideas. But real lived experience.

She knows that prevention measures and early support matters so much.

“Because when young people are supported early, when they’re listened to early, when they’re believed in early, their whole future trajectory can change,” she says.

“Keep listening to young people; keep believing in them; keep backing programs like Onwards & Upwards; and keep creating spaces where young people can grow, lead, and thrive.

“Because when young people are supported properly, they don’t just survive — they rise.”

The Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation is demonstrating measurable success through its programs in delivering practical, person-centred solutions, improving the lives of at-risk youth, and supporting safer communities.

For more information, visit: inspiringbrighterfutures.com
ENDS media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs 0419 828440 [email protected]