Talk Out Loud Australia

05/09/2026

💙💚 Honoured to be part of AFAFest26

We’re incredibly honoured to be here at the Albinism Fellowship of Australia’s AFAFest26 at the Grand Chancellor in Adelaide.

Today I had the privilege of delivering a keynote presentation and workshop for teenagers living with albinism, exploring resilience, confidence, connection and navigating some of the unique challenges that can come with being different.

At the same time, our amazing Talk Out Loud team has been spending time with the younger children, creating a space for fun, connection and empowerment. 💚

This is what we love about TOL — being out in the community, sharing what we do, but also listening, learning and supporting other communities as they navigate the challenges life can bring.

Because resilience isn't about having an easy life. It's about knowing you don't have to face the hard stuff alone.
We’re so grateful to be part of this beautiful community. Very grateful 💙💚

03/09/2026

❤️

02/09/2026

Today Cindy, Aaron and myself met with John Fulbrook MP for Playford to talk all things Talk Out Loud which was facilitated by Mary and I meeting in July with Erin Thompson who is the newly appointed Premiers Advocate for Su***de Prevention.

Both meetings allowed us to highlight the vital work that Talk Out Loud do both in and for the community.

Meetings like this allow us to raise awareness and Talk Out Loud’s profile with the decision makers for South Australia which shines a spotlight on the young people in our state and the desperately needed support and funding required to reach as many young people as possible to provide support with not only mental health and well-being but also on the other important work that we do which is empowering young people to live their best lives through engaging in one or all of our programs.

Both John and Erin are lovely people and have shown great enthusiasm in supporting what we have now been doing for 10 years!

Huge thanks to John and Erin for inviting us to share our mission, work and aspirations for the future by having these discussions and showing their support for everything that we do here at Talk Out Loud!

Excited for the future!

Kerry 💙💚

30/08/2026

A huge congratulations to two of our youngest volunteers, Nico and Caitlin, who were both nominated for the Tea Tree Gully Youth Achievement Awards held on Thursday night! 💚💙

We are incredibly proud to share that Nico took home the Courage Under Fire Award, recognising his incredible resilience, strength and the way he uses his lived experience to inspire and support others. And a huge congratulations to Caitlin, who was runner-up in the Peer Choice Award. What an incredible achievement and such a wonderful recognition of the difference she makes to the young people and our team.

A special mention also to Bianca Keeley, who proudly represented Talk Out Loud on the night.

We couldn't do the work we do without these amazing young people who give their time, heart and energy to supporting others. We are so incredibly proud of you, Nico and Caitlin!

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners! What a wonderful night celebrating the young people of our community ❤️

27/08/2026

There is a yin and yang to putting on an event like the Adelaide City Plunge.

The YIN is the reality behind the scenes.

The hundreds of hours of planning, emails, phone calls, organising, problem-solving, worrying about the things that might go wrong, and trying to hold all the pieces together. The late nights. The ridiculously early mornings. Last night I finally got to bed at 5am.

And then the YANG arrives. 💚

You stand there the next morning and suddenly you are surrounded by people you didn't know a few weeks or months ago, who have chosen to step into something that means so much to us.

People who have heard about Talk Out Loud. People who have connected with our work. People who have decided that young people's voices matter and have put themselves literally over the edge to help us empower young people to find theirs.

And honestly… that warms my heart more than I can put into words.

Today was another reminder that Talk Out Loud isn't just an organisation. It's a community. It's people who believe that every young person deserves to be heard, supported and reminded that their story isn't over yet.

But there was another side to today for me.

When our amazing MC Luke Axford mentioned my brother's name, amongst all the excitement, laughter and celebration, it tugged at my heart.
Because ultimately, he is the reason I started this journey. Thirty-six years later, his name is still being spoken. His story is still helping shape what we do. And thousands of young people have been touched by something that began with one family's heartbreak.

That's the yin and the yang.

The exhaustion and the exhilaration.
The tears and the laughter.
The heartbreak and the hope.
The enormous amount of work and the incredible people who make every exhausting hour worthwhile.

Today, I was reminded once again why I keep doing this.

To every person who plunged, volunteered, donated, cheered, supported, shared our story or simply stopped by to say hello — thank you.

You are part of the reason we keep doing what we do.

And to the amazing Talk Out Loud team and volunteers who made today happen — I am so incredibly proud of you. 💙💚

What a day.

What a community.

And what a privilege it is to keep turning pain into purpose.

21/08/2026

This week in RAW&REAL….

30 years is a long time, a lot can happen in a day let alone 10,957 of them! That’s how long it’s been since I finished High School and tonight I have our 30 Year School Reunion

First of all… I feel old! But that aside the lead up to tonight has invoked a range of emotions

In 1996 I was just 17 and at the time, like all of us, I had no idea what was to come!

Just a year later I tried to end my life and so began the roller coaster of my mental health, with a diagnoses at least, I’d had my fair share of problems years prior.

I was talking to a friend this week and it dawned on me that apart from my friends from school I’ve kept in contact with all these years, I don’t actually remember many of the people I went to school with because over 3 months in psychosis when I was 18 severed much of my memory in the years leading up to and after my psychosis

It will be interesting to see whether seeing everyone tonight will help to restore some of my memory of that time

As much as I am dreading going, mostly due to my anxiety, I am still looking forward to seeing everyone!

I feel safe in that whilst there will be people “I don’t know”, I will also have my friends I’ve been friends with for over 30 years!

For most of us it’s going to be like meeting people for the first time all over again and reacquainting with each other because like I said, a lot can happen in 30 years!

I look forward to telling you all about it in my next instalment of RAW&REAL

Kerry 💜💚💙

19/08/2026

Definitely our cutest customers today

19/08/2026

How does the quote go? "Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you." A huge thank you to these awesome volunteers who helped out at the Bunnings BBQ today where we raised almost $700. That's the equivalent to sponsoring 3 young people at camp, so thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ Also thank you as always to John from Bakers Delight for supplying our delicious sliced bread. Would dearly love to find a sponsor for the sausages so please sing out if you can help. Life is good 😄

18/08/2026