Central Coast resident and Senior Youth Worker, Carlee Heise was recently announced as a 2023 National ABC Trailblazer winner for her work in curating the YAAS! Young Authentic and Social program.
Located on Darkinjung country, the YAAS! program is tackling the youth mental health crisis on the Central Coast through creative workshops, celebrations and social groups focusing on 12-24 year olds.
"YAAS! supports and celebrates young people with diverse identities and abilities, including LGBTQIA+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and those living with disabilities," Ms Heise said.
"We are seeing discrimination and disadvantage that they face at school, home and accessing services, which means they are experiencing isolation and poor mental health."
Ms Heise noted the Indigenous presence within the groups attending the programs on the Central Coast.
"There is a strong Indigenous representation in the groups of Young People engaging with YAAS!" she said.
"At our Teen Mental Health First Aid training for LGBTQIA+ youth, 17% were Indigenous. Most recently we delivered a Drag workshop where 31% of registered attendees were Indigenous."
Ms Heise and the community took the program to Naughty Noodle Haus - an evolving arts and and entertainment organisation - where they brought the program to life and rolled out about 5 months ago.
"Our community approached Naughty Noodle Fun Haus, the leading contemporary arts and culture organisation in the region for help as we were the only visibly diverse and queer-led organisation," she said.
"We have a fortnightly social group for 12-17 year olds, creative workshops and celebrations each school holidays.
"YAAS! participants can expect creative expression, social connection and fun, surrounded by like-minded young people."
The YAAS! program is transferrable across the nation and can be tailored to suit the needs of each region, provided there is an opportunity for the program to assist young people in their battle with mental health.
"The program at its core is about creative safe spaces where diverse Young People's unique identities are affirmed and celebrated, so it could be delivered anywhere," Ms Heise said
"As long as the young people in the region who don't feel like they fit anywhere else find a home at YAAS! then it's achieved it's goal." she said.
While YAAS! is still in it's infancy, Ms Heise notes more support is welcomed in order to continue growth and improve the quality of the program.
"The Central Coast is a huge region geographically, and we need more support and resources to make sure that the benefits of our program are accessible to all marginalised youth across the Coast," she said
"We are forming strong connections with other local services to help us do this, including with our friends at Gudjagang Ngara li-dhi who hosted us in their Wyong space for a voguing workshop in 2022.
"and will be welcoming us into their space again for a street dance workshop in the April school holidays."
On Thursday Ms Heise spoke at Parliament House, presenting YAAS! to an audience of 120 politicians and change-makers seeking networking and media opportunities.
"I felt very proud to be the first Trailblazer to represent a project supporting LGBTQIA+ people," she said.
"My favourite part of the presentations at Parliament House was having people from the audience approach me afterwards and let me know that they, or a loved one are a part of my community and thank me for sharing my story."
"The support I feel from the ABC Heywire team makes me feel that the sky is the limit."
The National Indigenous Times asked Carlee what advice she has to young people out there who are facing these adversities.
She told us; "You are not alone. There are other courageous Regional Young People who are being their authentic selves, just like you."
"If there are no programs in your area for you, you can find your community online, or why not start your own? Your identity is valid. You are fabulous and you are loved, just as you are."
