Deborra-lee Furness
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

Deborra-lee Furness

Deborra-lee Furness

Deborra-lee Furness is an actor, director, producer and passionate supporter of women's and children's rights across the globe.

Deborra-lee became an Ambassador for World Vision on the proviso that she could be heavily involved and see our work first hand. Her first trip with World Vision was to Cambodia in 2008, where she saw how a low-cost loan fund was helping families set up small businesses. In 2009, she travelled to Ethiopia to see maternal and child health and economic development programs.

Following her visit to Ethiopia, Deborra-lee co-founded Laughing Man Foundation to provide a marketplace for farmers in developing countries to sell their goods to consumers in the US.

World Vision’s work

World Vision Australia works globally with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Our work in long-term community development, policy advocacy and change, and emergency relief addresses not only the symptoms of poverty, but also its complex and interrelated causes.

Deborra-lee has a special interest in our work to protect vulnerable children from exploitation, neglect, violence and abuse. Our community-based approach creates a protective environment at every level – by educating children, supporting safe and nurturing families, supporting child protection systems in emergencies, and through advocacy for stronger laws and policies to protect children.

In the field with Deborra-lee Furness

Journey to the birthplace of coffee

In 2009, actors Hugh Jackman and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness, traveled to Ethiopia. While in the Yirgacheffe region, Hugh met a 27 year-old coffee farmer named Dukale, working to lift his family out of poverty. Spending time on Dukale's farm, Hugh learned first-hand about the value of fair trade coffee and clean cookstove technology.