At just 23 years of age Ann brings a wealth of lived experience to BYAG. Aged 23, Ann grew up in Gagebrook, where she lived with her foster parents from the age of six.

A kind, positive and thoughtful person, Ann has spent much of her young life wanting to make sure that other young people in care know that they are not alone and are loved.

This passion led Ann to become involved with the Create Foundation, who run connection and empowerment programs for children and young people with an out-of-home care experience to have their say. The insights shared by young people like Ann informs advocacy work, with the aim to create a better life for children and young people in care.

As a young adult, Ann travelled interstate where she worked as a live-in nanny and au pair, before returning to Tasmania. Back in the Bridgewater/ Gagebrook area, she joined BYAG to have her voice heard.

“I felt like lots of adults and older people were talking about things that matter to us, but not a lot of kids were being heard,” said Ann. “I can relate to this community. It has its flaws like any community, but it is close-knit and people look out for each other. There are so many positives…if people keep focusing on the bad, then that’s all they’re going to see.”

In 2024, Ann completed the Inspiring Future Leaders program run by Loreto Housing. This is where Ann’s idea for a pop-up night café for young people aged 12 – 18 started. She approached John Flack, youth worker at Brighton Council and co-ordinator of BYAG, to propose a partnership with Council.

The idea is to use the Communities for Children Activity Van every Wednesday afternoon and evening at the car park in the Brighton Civic Centre in Bridgewater. There will be toasties, Milo, music and someone to chat to.

Ann has put in an expression of interest to help fund the weekly pop-ups through small grants being offered by the Youth Justice Reform Taskforce to encourage local, strength-based community initiatives for young people.

“It will take time for people to know you’re going to be there and are genuine. This will come from us showing up every week,” said Ann. “Even if it just helps one person through the night by having a chat, something to eat and a hot drink, with no rules hanging over them.”

After getting the pop-up café off the ground, Ann hopes the area’s young people will feel ownership of it and want to keep it running.

Currently studying beauty therapy, Ann’s long-term goal is to become a youth worker. “I want kids to have a better life than I did growing up – to be able to give kids hope and make them feel loved. Feeling loved is a basic human right.”