Barnardos Aotearoa is proud to welcome White Ferns cricketing star Amelia Kerr (Melie) as its newest Ambassador.

As a passionate advocate for mental health and a role model to tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa, Amelia brings her voice, experience, and mana to the Barnardos whānau — helping raise awareness of the challenges facing many children and young people and championing the support they deserve.

Amelia will be lending her support in particular to What’s Up, Barnardos’ free, confidential counselling helpline for children and young people, which answers more than 12,000 calls and webchats a year.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky in my life — surrounded by love, family and opportunity — but I’ve still hit the lowest of lows. I know what it’s like to feel alone, to doubt yourself, and to struggle with anxiety and depression. That’s why joining Barnardos feels so right. It’s my turn to give back — to stand alongside our tamariki and rangatahi, and help make sure they know there is hope, and that better days are ahead,” says Amelia.

Barnardos Chief Executive Matt Reid says Amelia’s support comes at a time when children and young people are facing increasingly complex challenges to their mental health and wellbeing.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Melie join us as an Ambassador. Her courage in speaking openly about her own mental health journey, and her dedication to supporting tamariki and rangatahi, are both inspiring and deeply aligned with our kaupapa,” said Matt Reid.

“At Barnardos, we believe every child deserves to feel heard, safe, and supported — and with Melie’s help, we hope even more young people will feel empowered to reach out for help when they need it.”

Amelia’s ambassadorship will involve visits to Barnardos services, supporting youth mental health and wellbeing awareness campaigns, and using her platform to elevate the voices of young people across Aotearoa.

“Sometimes it’s hard to speak up, even to the people closest to you — that’s where What’s Up is so powerful. It gives young people a safe place to talk, be heard and feel less alone. An external voice that says, ‘You matter. The world is always a better place with you in it.’ I’m proud to help shine a light on this support, because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and like they belong,” says Amelia.

As the leading children’s charity in Aotearoa, Barnardos supports more than 30,000 tamariki and whānau each year to ensure every child in Aotearoa has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their circumstances. Our unique combination of social services, early learning, care services and counselling helpline provides the broadest range of child-centred services in Aotearoa.

Media contact
Elodie Berthe, Barnardos Aotearoa, Communications Manager Elodie.berthe@barnardos.org.nz
027 220 2995

Batting for brighter futures: Cricket star Amelia Kerr joins Barnardos Aotearoa as Ambassador