Cairns welcomes new voices: Meet the first cohort of the Young Leaders Program
In an exciting new chapter for community engagement in Far North Queensland, six remarkable individuals have been accepted into the inaugural intake of the Cairns Young Leaders Program. Meet the six participants.
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In an exciting new chapter for community engagement in Far North Queensland, six remarkable individuals have been accepted into the inaugural intake of the Cairns Young Leaders Program.
Each of these inspiring youth leaders bring a unique perspective shaped by their personal experiences with disabilities or multi-complex conditions.
However, as a group they hope to embark on a journey of advocacy, empowerment, and change, aiming to make a lasting impact in the Cairns community and beyond.
Meet the six youth leaders who are ready to make their mark.
Tihan Davis
A passionate 22-year-old, Tiahn Davis is “thrilled” to join the Cairns Young Leaders Program and said she’s eager to explore the opportunities available in Cairns for advocacy and community impact.
Ms Davis lives with a number of conditions, one of those is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder which affects her heart.
“Because I look ‘normal’ to most people, having a chronic illness is hard because it’s having an invisible disability,” she said.
“People's attitude towards disability doesn’t fit the same attitude for chronic illness, I’m hoping to change that”.
Ms Davis said she has a strong commitment to advocacy and wants to raise awareness about challenges she has faced so others don’t have to experience them.
She hopes to inspire others to embrace their unique abilities.
Elina Passant
Originally from Victoria, Ms Passant now resides in Far North Queensland and is excited to advocate for inclusive spaces, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need and can feel valued and heard.
Ms Passant is dedicated to eliciting change and believes in the power of community and working together to achieve an overall goal.
Also living with EDS, the 21-year-old lost her hearing 12 months ago and has since faced significant challenges, including numerous communication barriers with everyday services, including within the medical system.
“What I really hope for with this program is to push for change...because it’s scary trying to even access healthcare,” she said.
Ramon Savage
Meet Ramon, a lively 19-year-old whose hobbies include playing video games, watching movies, and a passion for math.
After graduating from Trinity Bay State High School last year, he is now eager to pursue a career in the service industry.
His mission is to empower peers by sharing personal stories and promoting understanding, proving that diversity is a strength.
He is most proud of his eco-friendly philanthropic work, through his work collecting glass bottles, Mr Savage donates portions of his monthly earnings to charities.
“I won a certificate for donating money to Holloways Beach after the floods. Money I had earned through bottle collection,” he said.
Gotham Stevens
Gotham Steven is from the Atherton Tablelands and lives with ADHD and autism.
They are passionate about promoting youth services, particularly within the queer community.
“I want to work on making queer youth spaces more accessible to people with a disability, and I’m hoping I can take what I learn from this program and apply it,” they said.
With a strong belief of every voice matters, Gotham said through leadership they hope to create a lasting change within the community, particularly with other young members of the pride community.
They hope to enrol at university to complete a degree in social work.
Jules Visintin
Julian Visintin is a motivated advocate striving to break down barriers and raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity, and hopes to encourage others to join the movement.
Originally from Wingham in NSW, Mr Visintin works with FNQ disability action group Action for Change and specialises in advocacy and advisory with residents in the Cairns community who live with disabilities “you don’t really see”, such as trauma, the elderly and mental health.
“I specialise in working with people who have disabilities that you don’t physically see, both profound and hidden,” he said.
Mr Visintin lives with a mental health condition and is vision impaired.
He said he wants to leave a lasting legacy through the work he learns within the program.
“I really want to make a difference,” he said.
Rounding out the sixth member of the program is Hoziana Manifasha.
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