Speakers and
Presenters
6 – 7 August, 2015
Door of Hope, Launceston
The Tasmanian Youth Conference
The Tasmanian Youth Conference (TYC) is a biannual event which celebrates and explores what it means to be a young
person in Tasmania! TYC is open to young Tasmanians aged between 12-25 years who are, or want to be, involved in their
community. A concurrent program also caters to the needs of the wider youth sector.
TYC provides the opportunity for young people to get together with the wider youth sector and initiate projects, learn skills ,
hear from dynamic speakers, and engage with interactive workshops on a wide range of subjects. It also provides an
excellent chance to increase the social capacity and engagement of a broad range of young people.
TYC15 will be held on August 6 and 7, 2015, at the Launceston Conference Centre, Launceston.
The TYC Program
TYC15 has a varied, exciting and enagaging program with speakers from around Australia, including experts in a range of
fields, young people and workers. The program also offer a number of interactive workshops.
The TYC Program will include:
 Several keynote speakers (sector and young person)
 A selection of concurrent workshops/presentations (sector and young people)
 Professional development opportunities
 A pre-conference professional development workshop (limited places available)
 Evening event
Who is TYC for?
 Youth workers, youth health workers and social workers
 Youth justice workers, child protection and Gateway Workers
 Workers from community organisations
 Policy makers and researchers
 Teachers
 Those working in government
 Anyone with a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing outcomes for young people
How is TYC Possible?
TYC is organised by a committed Working Group made up of people from YNOT, TYF and a range of other
organisations. Young people are also involved in the Working Group so that TYC is relevant and interesting to them!
TYC 2015 is funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Communities, Sport and Recreation Tasmania.
TYC would not be possible through the support and sponsorship of the Tasmanian community, including local business, clubs,
councils, organisations and individuals.
Joanna Siejka
CEO
Youth Network of Tasmania
http://www.ynot.org.au/tyc
2 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Jane Burns
Young and Well CRC
Associate Professor Jane Burns is the founder and CEO of the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, an organisation that
unites young people with researchers, practitioners and innovators to explore the role of technology in improving mental health and
wellbeing for young people aged 12 to 25.
Jane holds a Principal Research Fellowship at Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and an Honorary
Fellowship at the Brain & Mind Research Institute. She has led the youth agenda for beyondblue, was a Commonwealth Fund
Harkness Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, and was Director of International Partnerships at Inspire
Foundation. Jane held a VicHealth fellowship from 2006-2013, an NHMRC fellowship from 1997-2000 and an NHMRC scholarship
from 1994-1996. She holds a PhD in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine (Public Health and Epidemiology) University of
Adelaide.
Jane was a Victorian Finalist in the 2012 Telstra Business Women's Awards and was listed in the Financial Review and Westpac
Group 100 Women of Influence in 2012. Jane is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
3 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Adam Mostogl
Young Tasmanian of the Year
In any given week, Adam Mostogl might be helping young entrepreneurs to kick-start their companies, stimulating small businesses
to challenge the status quo, challenging communities to understand their potential or teaching hundreds of students to embrace
innovation to solve the problems of the future. Focused on empowering the community to create change, Adam established
illuminate in 2009 and partners with many organisations, to inspire young people to embrace their creativity, identify business
solutions to simple problems and recalibrate their approaches to learning. Living by his motto that “if you want something done for
the community, you need to get out and do it”, Adam inspires young people to realise their potential, unleash their creativity and
seize the opportunities, because, as he says, “the world is ready”.
4 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Andrew Cummings
Youth work consultant
Andrew has worked in children and young people’s organisations for over 25 years. His roles have included working with young
people in out-of-home-care and facing family breakdown, through to managing national and international programs and
organisations in Australia, the UK and Europe. Andrew has written extensively on youth issues, with over 20 published works on
working with young people. He has also developed and delivered training programs on a range of youth issues to over 3000 youth
and community workers, and to hundreds of young people.
Andrew’s previous roles include being Secretary General of the European Confederation of Youth Clubs (2000 to 2006), Executive
Officer of the Settlement Council of Australia (2009 to 2010) and Executive Director of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (2010
to 2013). He currently works as Executive Officer of the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network of NSW and as a freelance trainer and
consultant.
5 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Mark Morrissey
Commissioner for Children, Tasmania
Mark Morrissey was appointed Commissioner for Children in November 2014 for a 5 year term. Mark has extensive experience
across the full spectrum of child and adolescent service delivery, policy development and research and review. He has
longstanding experience as a successful advocate for children and young people. Whilst undertaking the role of Commissioner
within the legislation, he has a strong interest and commitment to advocacy for all children in Tasmania. He has particular interest
in young people at risk, joined up service delivery across Government and non government services.
6 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Matthew Keeley
Director, National Children's and Youth Law Centre
Matthew is the Director of the NCLYC, and Chairs the Child Rights Taskforce, which brings together policy experts and advocates
on the rights of children and young people. NCYLC provides legal advice and information, as well as leadership, in the area of
children and youth legal practice in Australia.
7 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Peter Murphy
CEO Noetic Solutions
Peter has considerable knowledge across a number sectors and services providing leadership on key projects.
Peter has particular expertise in strategy development, enterprise risk, lessons learnt, and program development and
implementation. His major projects cover a wide range of areas and include: reports into youth justice in NSW and the ACT.
8 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Heidi LaPaglia
TUU President and youth advocate
Heidi La Paglia was the Tasmanian University Union President in 2005.
Heidi has been involved in heavily involved in community work with the University of Tasmania and the broader Hobart community
since leaving school in 2012. In 2013, Heidi was a recipient of the Vice Chancellors Leadership Award, and the team leader for
World Visions youth team at the University of Tasmania. At the end of 2013, Heidi was elected to the General Representative
position in the TUU student representative council, and went on to become to the TUU Women's Officer in 2014.
Heidi has a passion for feminism empowerment, and is involved in many women's groups in Tasmania. At the end of 2013, Heidi
was elected to the Tasmanian Women's Council (TWC) and is still a member.
Heidi's focus is on empowering individuals from disadvantaged groups to achieve their greatest potential. Heidi believes that
education should be open to all, and that treating people equally benefits the whole community.
9 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Kylie Dunn
Motivational Speaker
TEDxHobart speaker and author of Living with Intent: The 10 Steps to Discovering Your Why from My
Year of TED; Kylie shares the wisdom and experiences gained from a diverse career and her My Year of
TED project. Each presentation is tailored for the people in the room, providing insights and ideas worth
spreading for the people you need Kylie to reach. With a mix of honest wit and a reputation for turning
theory into practical actions, Kylie delivers a unique blend of inspiration and tangible knowledge to help
you live the life you want. You will be engaged, entertained and empowered by her performance.
10 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Brendan Churchill
Associate Lecturer in Sociology
Brendan is an associate lecturer in sociology in the School of Social Sciences. Previously, Brendan was a research fellow at the
Menzies Research Institute and the School of Nursing and Midwifery working on health-related projects in dementia and health
services research. Brendan is currently completing his doctoral thesis in sociology, which is look at attitudes towards egalitarianism
over the life course.
11 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Eva Mackinley
Passionate change maker
Eva is a young person who has been working in the youth empowerment and social change sectors for some time and in a variety
of roles - local, national and international. She has been involved in Oaktree, Festival of Dreams, Tasmanian Youth Forum, VGen
and is now involved in the Young Social Pioneers program. She moved away from Hobart for a while but came back because she
felt there was more potential for her here.
12 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston
Terrapin Puppet Theatre
Terrapin is Australia's premier contemporary puppet theatre creating world-class performances for young people and their families,
touring Tasmania, nationally and internationally. Terrapin will provide their Shadow Photo Booth for TYC.
13 \\ 6 – 7 August 2015, Launceston