Normal and by-the-book are two things Cody Schaeffer is not! While working as a radio presenter, he founded Borderline Australia. It’s a non-profit organisation dedicated to changing the lives of teenage Australians through youth mental health education and programs, including his popular Borderline Youth Camp. The Borderline Australia charity came along after years of work as a Mental Health Advocate assisting with planning various programs, events & charities – this is where Cody’s passion is after also struggling with mental health from a young age himself.
He always knew that there were greater ways we can talk about mental health and support everyone dealing with their own battles without the fear of being judged, so Cody found the beauty in focusing on mental strength rather than mental health. With a drive, dedication and commitment to helping young people, Cody has never shied away from being an instigator of change, he has been doing community work and volunteering since he was 15!
For his efforts, he was named Brisbane’s 2020 Young Citizen of the Year, a 2022 Finalist for QLD Young Australian of the Year and in 2023 the youngest Australian to be awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) on the King’s Birthday Honours List. Cody’s positivity and ability to ‘create something.’
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