Melissa McGuinness

Founder of YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety

2022 QLD Australian of the Year Nominee

Following a road crash in which her son's choices took four innocent lives, including his own, Melissa McGuinness decided to use her tragic experience to facilitate a social movement for good.

Melissa founded YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety, an organisation that changes driving behaviours and prevents youth road trauma. Her national award-winning program has the support of schools, parents, students, police and community engagement officers, as well as organisations including the Australian Road Safety Foundation and Youth Leadership Academy Australia.

Since 2017, YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety has delivered its programs to schools across the country, engaging with more than 100,000 young Australians. It empowers them to take accountability for themselves and their peers by exploring the concepts of love, family and choice.