Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT

17/10/2025

Eastern Shore followers... keep an eye on your letterboxes for a copy of the Eastern Shore Sun October edition. ✨Fabulous story written by Young Leader Peer-Mentor and YLOT employee Jas, highlighting the workforce development pathway through YLOT's School Buddies program. We are so thrilled that as a result of their experience in our school program, young leaders are choosing the disability sector as a career option.

Thank you to Tasmanian Government Department for Education, Children and Young People for your ongoing funding support for this program. 💚

Southern Support School
Bellerive Primary School

15/10/2025

We are growing! An exciting new opportunity in Launceston, to program manage our Northern School Buddies Program.
Please contact Keren for more information.

08/10/2025

Highlights from our Spring Holiday Buddies and Community Access Program, from exploring the zoo 🦁 and enjoying the outdoors 🌳, to tennis, gymnastics 🤸, and a special visit from Cricklewood Farm Animals and Sally Sunshine ☀️. Thank you to everyone for making our week so fun and inclusive, especially our Young Leader Peer Mentor Buddies, our fabulous team of staff, and our partner organisations:
Southern Support School
Cricklewood Sally Sunshine Entertainment Hobart Zoo and Aquarium Sunshine Tennis Club Eastside Activity Centre - Gymnastics and Trampoline Club The Grace Centre St Mark's Bellerive

25/09/2025

Congratulations to the Friends School Young Leaders who assisted in organising this event for their Buddies at Southern Support School!

12/09/2025

20/08/2025

Today we welcomed to the YLOT Program at the North West Support School - Devonport Campus 🎉⭐

Congratulations to the eight students from Reece High School, we loved reading your first visit reflections as you commence this journey with your Buddies at the Support School:

"My buddy is amazing. It was amazing to be able to learn how she communicated with her Eye Gaze, and to be able to have conversations with her through that. It was amazing to see how excited she got when you asked her questions and interacted with her. I am looking forward to going back and building a relationship with my buddy... I would like to learn more of her cues and movements as her communication, and learn to communicate like that with her." 💚

"Before the visit I felt slightly nervous but after the visit I felt really happy with how the session had gone and reassured. I also feel really excited to go back next week. I feel more confident about being able to support the students at the support school and am really excited for the next time." 💚

11/08/2025

Come along and support our Founder and CEO, Keren as she shares her story, along with other Australian of the Year Awards winners on the Tasmanian Tour of Honour. This will be Neale Daniher's only public appearance in Tasmania and is sure to be an inspirational night.

Join Neale Daniher AO, Ariarne Titmus OAM, Sam Elsom and Keren Franks live on stage in Hobart, with Real Stories, Real Change – Conversations with Australians Making a Difference.

As the featured event of the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards Tour of Honour in Tasmania, this will be Neale’s only Tasmanian appearance as his powerful voice will be brought to life through cutting-edge tech.

📅 Thursday 14 August at 5:00PM
🎟️ Tickets ON SALE NOW — don’t miss out!

👉 theatreroyal.com.au/shows/real-stories-real-change

50% of ticket proceeds will go towards Fight MND💙
Sea Forest Australia Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT

07/08/2025

🎤 This morning Johnno caught up with Keren Franks, founder of Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT ahead of her appearance at the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards Tour of Honour – happening next Thursday night at the Theatre Royal.
⁠
She’ll be joined on stage by some of the country’s most inspiring Australians, including:
🌟 Neale Daniher – Australian of the Year & Fight MND co-founder
🌟 Ariarne Titmus – Olympic gold medalist
🌟 Sam Elsom – Tasmanian Australian of the Year & climate innovator
⁠
🎟 Don’t miss this powerful night of stories and inspiration. Tickets via https://www.theatreroyal.com.au/shows/real-stories-real-change or at the Theatre Royal Box Office

💙 50% of all ticket proceeds will be donated to Fight MND!

16/07/2025

🌈❄️ Winter Fun & Connection! ❄️🌈

Our Holiday Buddies program was packed with all the fun stuff — all tied in with NAIDOC Week and celebrating culture, creativity, and community. 💛❤️🖤

We had:
🎶 Music therapy jams
💃 Bollywood Dance-offs and good laughs
🌈 Rainbow Day (so much colour + creation)
💅 Pamper Day to chill and feel fresh
🎨 Art & craft inspired by First Nations stories
👩‍🍳Cooking damper, pizza and decorating biscuits
🎳Community Access adventures!

Best part? Our peer mentor Young Leader buddies were there every step of the way — encouraging everyone, joining in the fun, and making sure no one missed a beat. 💥

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and brought the energy — you made it such a vibe! 🙌 Special thanks to our valued partner Southern Support School