Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT

10/12/2025

Absolutely two thumbs up ! It’s not good 👍🏼, it’s Great 👍🏼 👍🏼 !

Two thumbs up for the Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT Buddy Program!

So excited to join students from Norwood Primary School and the Northern Support School - Launceston for the launch of this innovative and award-winning program in the north, aimed at strengthening skills, confidence and peer-to-peer connections between mainstream and support school students.

02/12/2025

We were thrilled to sponsor awards at both the Burnie and Devonport campuses of the North West Support School assemblies and see them awarded last week.

Congratulations to Alvin from Burnie; and to Amber and Alfie from Devonport and we hope you enjoy your book prizes! 💚📗📚

North West Support School - Burnie Campus
North West Support School - Devonport Campus

30/11/2025

Government House reception hosted by the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, and Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers AO, to celebrate our 2025 Graduation of the School Buddies program. ✨💚

Congratulations to all graduates and to their buddies, and thank you to all who attended.

📸 Lynne Moran Photography (+ a few from staff)
📍 Governor of Tasmania

🎓Bellerive Primary School
🎓Howrah Primary School
🎓Clarence High School
🎓The Friends' School
🎓Southern Support School

29/11/2025

We were thrilled to have the Minister officially launch our Northern Program this week at Northern Support School - Launceston. “Kindness and beautiful friends” sums it up pretty well! Thank you Jo Palmer MLC.
Norwood Primary School

28/11/2025

Congratulations to our Young Leaders and their Buddies from the North West Support School - Devonport Campus , Devonport Primary School and Reece High School who celebrated their graduation from the YLOT School Buddies program in Devonport yesterday. ✨

It was also such a pleasure to present our YLOT Ambassador for the North West Coast, Matty D with a Certficiate of Appreciation. Matty is such a passionate supporter of YLOT and will be an amazing ambassador. Thank you Matty! 💚

Thank you also to Cheryll for managing the programs in both Burnie and Devonport this year and to our amazing long term volunteer, Denise for your continued support. 💐

27/11/2025

✨ Milestone Moment! ✨

Yesterday afternoon in Launceston, we celebrated the official launch of YLOT’s School Buddies Northern Program, with the Hon Jo Palmer MLC , Minister for Education, Children and Youth and Disability Services. This was a milestone for YLOT, taking our program fully statewide!

Community representatives, Family members, Staff and Students from Norwood Primary School and Northern Support School - Launceston came together to build connections that go beyond classrooms - creating a culture where diversity is celebrated as strength. 💚

This program is all about empowering young Tasmanians to lead with empathy, understanding, and heart. When we improve outcomes for people with disability, we strengthen the whole community, and creating awareness of difference and celebrating inclusion is what YLOT is all about.

Next year selected students from Norwood Primary will visit their buddies at the Northern Support School each fortnight, participating in shared activities, reflecting on their journey and setting goals, these buddies will be showing us what true inclusive leadership looks like. 🌟

Thank you to Department for Education, Children and Young People for your support of this program and welcome to Rebecca B who will be our Northern Program Manager for YLOT.

📸Felix & Chester photography

Matthew Garwood

26/11/2025

Last night we had the honour of attending a reception hosted by the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, and Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers AO, to celebrate our 2025 Graduation of the School Buddies program. ✨💚

Congratulations to all graduates and to their buddies

More photos to follow, thank you to our photographer.
📸 Moran Photography

25/11/2025

Congratulations to students from Cooee Primary School and North West Support School - Burnie Campus who celebrated their graduation from the All Abilities School Buddies program today in Burnie.

Thank you to our proud Ambassador, Matty D, who assisted NWSS Principal, Sarah-Jane in presenting the Young Leaders their certificates and portfolios.

YLOT's North-West Program Manager, Cheryll, reported she has really enjoyed working with this group of Young Leaders from Cooee Primary. Their dedication to the program has been next level and they showed up for their buddies at NWSS each and every session. Thank you everyone and Congratulations!

💚✨

17/11/2025

✨ BIG NEWS! ✨
Young Leaders of Tasmania is honoured to welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, as our Patron.

Her Excellency shared “As Patron, I look forward to amplifying the importance of the organisation’s work, empowering young people of all abilities to reach their full potential… YLOT is fostering the values I have put at the centre of my term — care, kindness and respect.”

The Governor-General met YLOT Buddies Matty and Murphy in Devonport; and Tayla-Maree, a YLOT alumna now employed in YLOT’s Hobart base. “Her warmth and genuine interest in our young people and their families was deeply felt,” said Keren Franks, Founder and CEO.

YLOT Chair Mathew Blunt added, “Her Excellency’s lifelong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and the wellbeing of young people reflects everything we stand for.”

Patronage from the Governor-General of Australia acknowledges organisations making a significant contribution to Australian society. We are excited for this next chapter as we expand our peer-led programs and continue building inclusive communities statewide.

To read the full media release: https://ylot.org.au/about/

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.