About Us
Building safer, more inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive.
Who we are
THEIRS is a youth-led, not-for-profit mental health and suicide prevention organisation founded to respond directly to community need across Tasmania’s North-West Coast.
THEIRS stands for Talk, Hear & Help, Educate, Inform, Refer and Support. We exist to make mental health support more visible, accessible, and human — especially in regional and rural communities where services can be limited or difficult to reach.
Built on lived experience, trauma-informed practice, and strong community partnerships, THEIRS creates safe spaces where people of all ages can connect, learn, share their stories, and access pathways to support. While our work is youth-led and youth-focused, we believe everyone deserves care, connection, and the opportunity to be supported.
People are at the heart of everything we do.
Our Vision
Our Why
That everyone’s story matters and regardless of where you live, age or past, everyone deserves to receive support. People are at the heart of everything we do!
How THEIRS Came About
THEIRS was founded by Laura Johnson OAM following her own lived experience with trauma, mental ill-health, and systemic barriers to support.
Growing up in a rural community, Laura experienced assault at a young age. The long-term impacts led to isolation, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts. When she sought professional help, she was dismissed and told to “stop faking it.” That rejection deepened the harm and highlighted serious gaps in youth mental health care.
Years later, Laura witnessed her younger sister experience similar struggles, including hospitalisations, discrimination due to age, and inadequate access to appropriate care. After a life-threatening crisis involving her sister, Laura made a commitment to do more than advocate, she committed to building change.
Laura began attending forums, joining boards, engaging policymakers, studying social work, and using her voice to represent young people. She launched petitions, spoke publicly, and worked to shift systems from the inside.
After being nominated for Young Tasmanian of the Year, Laura found herself overwhelmed by the number of people reaching out for mental health support. It became clear that communities needed safe, preventative spaces — not just crisis responses.
One small moment of connection, being invited for a cup of coffee and genuinely checked on, helped Laura begin healing. That moment became the foundation of THEIRS.
In 2021, Laura founded THEIRS as a preventative, community-based organisation built on connection, lived experience, and youth leadership.
Despite being told she was “too young” or “too inexperienced,” THEIRS quickly grew into a trusted voice across Tasmania, delivering large-scale community events, school programs, advocacy work, and training initiatives.THEIRS stands for Talk, Hear & Help, Educate, Inform, Refer and Support.
We are a youth-led, community-driven mental health and suicide prevention organisation founded to respond directly to the needs of regional communities across Tasmania’s North-West Coast.
Built on lived experience, trauma-informed practice, and community connection, THEIRS creates safe, accessible spaces where people can learn, share, connect, and find pathways to support, regardless of age, background, or location.
People are at the heart of everything we do.
Why We Exist
We exist because everyone’s story matters.
Across regional and rural communities, people continue to face barriers accessing mental health support. Services are often difficult to reach, under-resourced, or disconnected from the lived realities of young people and families. THEIRS was created to bridge these gaps by building visibility, strengthening community connection, and creating practical, compassionate pathways to support.
At the heart of our work is the belief that prevention begins with people, with listening, understanding, and creating spaces where individuals feel safe to speak up.
Youth-Led, Trauma-Informed Approach
THEIRS is proudly youth-led. Our leadership model centres young people as decision-makers, advocates, and program designers. This ensures our work remains relevant, grounded, and responsive to real community needs.
All programs and events are delivered through a trauma-informed lens. We recognise that individuals carry different life experiences, including trauma, and we design safe environments that focus on strengths, empowerment, and practical tools without re-traumatisation.
Tiered Organisational Model
THEIRS operates under a tiered organisational structure designed to balance strong leadership, good governance, and meaningful community participation. This model ensures accountability at the top while remaining deeply connected to the communities we serve.
Our structure allows young people, community members, service providers, and partners to contribute at different levels based on capacity, availability, and interest — while keeping decision-making transparent, collaborative, and responsive to real community needs.
Tier 1 - Founder & Producer
Led by our Founder and Producer, Laura Johnson, Tier 1 provides the overall vision, leadership, and direction for THEIRS. This level guides the organisation’s purpose, strategic growth, partnerships, advocacy, and community impact. Laura works closely with all tiers to ensure THEIRS remains grounded in lived experience, youth leadership, and trauma-informed practice while continuing to create meaningful change across Tasmania.
Tier 2 - Board
Tier 3 - Core Team (Active Members)
Tier 4 - Extended Contributors
Tier 5 - Community Network
Awards & Recognition
Grounded in community.
Led by lived experience.
THEIRS is built on youth leadership, trauma-informed practice, and genuine connection — working alongside communities to create safer, more supportive pathways to mental health and wellbeing.
