WHO WE ARE

Youth Led Services is an Indigenous founded, owned and run NDIS-registered service. YLS grew from both two First Nations womens personal and professional experiences working with young people with disabilities. YLS’ founders have witnessed first-hand how families, service workers, and carers who realistically and constructively support childhood expressions of neurodiversity and disability, can contribute to young people with disabilities flourishing as self-determined, connected, and capable adults.

YLS believes that access to culture is not simply an inalienable right for young Indigenous people with disabilities; culture is a vital framework through which young peoples’ identities, strength, and independence are realised. Together, they have built a team and an approach to disability services that emulates these experiences and beliefs.

  • Co-Founder
    Maori Cultural Engagement

    I am a Maori woman who has travelled and lived overseas experiencing the flavours and international cultures throughout.

    I know my whakapapa (historic connection to land and ancestors) on both my mothers and fathers sides. My fathers land is Gloucester in the shire of Gloucester. I spent over a decade as an elite athlete, playing representative and World Cup rugby. I learnt a lot about myself and built the woman I am today.

    I am a youth worker by trade, and it fits like a glove. I have worked in youth residential in Australia and youth community development in the UK across all sectors, disabilities and youth culture.

    This professional career has helped me realise the value of my athletic training, and my cross-cultural identity, in becoming a good role model. I have come to understand the power of identifying my difference-ness and not feeling that I fit completely. As time has passed I have identified and embraced the key components of my identity to feel confident about my culture and how I carry myself through the world, whilst having two lenses: Maori and English.

    By using the tools of knowledge and understanding, and sharing this experience of walking in two worlds, I have sought to make it easier for others to traverse all encounters of difference.

    Young people are tomorrow's future and they will guide the next generations. If I can help one young person move through their barriers, physical, mental, emotional, financial, behavioural, my heart will be full.