Young Leaders of Tasmania - YLOT

19/06/2026

Big ideas start with brave conversations 💬✨

Our Young Leaders from Bellerive Primary School met with Principal, Mr Groves, this week to share their project ideas for the School Buddies Program. With confidence and creativity, they spoke up about ways to build stronger community connections and share their journey in our program.

We’re so proud of these young leaders for stepping up and helping create awareness of their peers living with disability. 💚💙

15/06/2026

Dark Park Sensory Session 🖤❤️💚
Thank you to our amazing Young Leaders who assisted families and spoke to media at the first of our 2026 Dark M**o x YLOT Sensory Sessions yesterday.

We hope everyone had a relaxed time! 🔥➕
See you next weekend!

12/06/2026

08/06/2026

Hi everyone👋 My name is Brad, and I’m excited to be stepping into the newly created role of Quality, Safeguarding and Compliance Officer with YLOT.

I have many years of experience across health, leadership and quality roles. Many of you may already know me through my support work with YLOT participants, and I’m grateful to continue that work while also supporting YLOT in this new capacity. 💚

This role will focus on strengthening quality, safeguarding and compliance across the organisation. This includes supporting safe practice, incident and risk reporting, documentation, and continuous improvement across YLOT services.

My approach is practical, supportive and collaborative. Quality and compliance should not just be about ticking boxes; it should help us create safer, clearer and better experiences for participants, families, staff and the wider YLOT community.

I’m really looking forward to working alongside everyone in this role, so please reach out if you have any suggestions or questions. I’d love to connect, you can reach me on: 📧[email protected]

07/06/2026

Our Friday Social Buddies group have been cooking up a storm lately! 🍳
From meal planning to food prep and cooking, they’ve been building great skills.

From British Bangers and Mash, to Asian Stir Fry, to Corn Fritters and sweet treats; the best part is always sitting down together to enjoy sharing the meals they’ve made.

Such a delicious month - we can’t wait to see what’s next! 💚🧑‍🍳🥘🍪

05/06/2026

Last term we were thrilled to welcome the 2026 group of Young Leaders from Bellerive Primary School to the School Buddies program at Southern Support School 🎉

There have been plenty of smiles from students each fortnight as they visit their buddies and join in on a range of activities in their buddy's classrooms. It has been wonderful to see everyone explore, connect, and start to learn about inclusion and all abilities.

The Young Leader buddy visuals are included in the class's daily timetable and Southern Support School students are starting to anticipate each visit and show excitement when we arrive.

We’re so excited to keep building these connections and look forward to many more enjoyable visits with these incredible students. 🌟

29/05/2026

It's on again! We are partnering with Dark M**o to assist in private, sensory-friendly sessions for people with disability and their families.

If you, or a member of your family, live with a disability and would like to participate, please register here: https://form.jotform.com/darklabmarketing/dm26-sensory-friendly-sessions

Sessions:
➕ Dark Park - Ogoh Ogoh: Sunday 14 June, 3–4PM
❤️‍🔥 Winter Feast: Sunday 21 June, 3–4PM

Our Young Leader Peer Mentor volunteers will be in attendance to assist.
For more information please email [email protected] or call 0401 095 687.

28/05/2026

This week YLOT celebrated Week "All In" at with some wonderful coloring activities followed by a few very competitive rounds of bingo! There was lots of laughter, excitement and friendly competition in the room, with lucky winners choosing lollies and chocolates from the big treat bowl.

It was such a special experience witnessing the friendships and connections continuing to grow between the students from North West Support School - Devonport Campus and Don College. To finish the day, all students were presented with an amazing coloring-in book commemorating National Reconciliation Week.

Some beautiful feedback from the NWSS students included:
💛 Grace – pointed to “Happy” in her PODD book
💛 Lucas – “I like having nice conversations and sharing how I like my diffusers”
💛 Logan – “Fun with friends”
💛 Bryce – “I like it because I have fun”
💛 Aiden – pointed to “Excited” in his PODD book

And from the Don College students:
💛 Joe – “I enjoy watching Amber’s Eye Gazing Technology to communicate”
💛 Sophie – “I really like learning different forms of communication”
💛 Bella – “I am proud that what I consider to be such a small activity is really important to our buddies at the Support School.”
💛 Jonte – “I like that I feel I can help others build confidence”

What a beautiful day of inclusion, communication, friendship and learning together.

27/05/2026

26/05/2026

We’re excited to introduce The Friends' School 2026 Young Leaders as they begin their journey with our School Buddies Program on Senior Campus at Southern Support School.

Throughout the year, these students will build connections, mentor peers, learn about different forms of communication (AAC) and make a positive impact across our community.

From hands-on activities in the kitchen to sharing time together and building friendships, these early moments are just the beginning of something special. 💛

We look forward to seeing the kindness, inclusion and leadership these students will bring to the program in 2026!