%20.png)
Our goal at YEmpower is to build resilient communities, systems and initiatives that support joyous connection and expression. To provide support and guidance through workshops, events and initiatives that empower and uplift people young and old to create lives for themselves that are fulfilling, heartful and empowering.
Our Story
Many of us have experienced apathy, loss, injustice and fears of not-enoughness through our experiences at work and within traditional understandings of growth. After experiencing the worst a poorly ideated, mentored and supported career path could offer, one of our co-founder's Ness - decided to turn her experiences into change. YEmpower was born as everything our co-founders wish was available to us when we we're 17, but wasn't.
​
Since our creation in 2020, We have run countless workshops on everything from job readiness to consent education, mindfulness and goal setting.
Our first year saw us develop our programs, initiatives and systems based upon core needs and foundational basics, like job readiness and advocacy education.
Our second year saw us redefine our focus to centre around interpersonal relationships and how we each interact with the world. We had crucial conversations around consent education, boundary setting, empathy and community clean ups.
In our third year and already we are evolving into having crucial conversations about the relationships we have with ourselves
Our bus is driven by the needs of our community, with monthly meetings held to ensure that our community is transparent, consultative and collaborative. ​​
​
Community, career knowledge, mentoring and educational support is not often easily accessible to us as young people. In fact in worst cases - it comes gatekept with many barriers to implementation and integration in our own lives. ​
​
According to Burn Bright, 30% of young people felt like they didn’t have an adult to look up to or admire and a further 85% of students felt nervous about their futures, At YEmpower we believe we need to do more to change these statistics and help young Australians plan for their futures.
​
We have created a series of programs, workshops, policies and frameworks to support our vibrant community. To ensure that our community and its members have the space to create and be the kind of society we know the future holds. A society wherein which young Australians are given the tools they need to succeed, thrive and grow.
​
Our Organising Collective
Without the hard work and play of our organising team, the work that we do at YEmpower would not be possible. We acknowledge their hard work and thank them for their dedication, passion and energy to empowering, elevating and serving our community and their fellow members.
Tallulah Watson Moyle
Co-Founder - YEMPOWER.
​
Co-host of When Strong Women Talk, Tallulah is a young activist who is studying a social science and politics degree.
She has a strong desire to change the world and strives to leave every place better than the way she found it. This guiding principle is what follows her work in YEmpower.
Tallulah has past experience working as a student representative and as part of a youth led association. Tallulah is building her experience with public speaking and workshop facilitation and one day hopes to be paid to speak professionally.
With an affinity for social media, she helps coordinate YEmpower’s digital presence and is also a mentee in a mentor partnership.
Co-Founder - YEMPOWER.
​
Lucy is a multi-disciplinary creative and down to earth human being.
Growing up away from the city meant there was always an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, local music and strong sense of community, values she holds strong and hopes to inspire among others.
After spending some time in youth social justice and activism spaces she quit studying at university to further explore real-world experiences. Culture, arts and intersectionality are key concepts she platforms when making her way through the world; having been involved in projects such as short films, script-writing, cartooning, music videos, poetry reading, zine-creation, short stories, climate justice and social activism.
She also enjoys a good cup of tea.
Lucy Gooch-Tonga
Magdalena Tausch
Graphic Designer, Archaeologist, Entrepreneur
​
Born and raised in the countryside of Transylvania, immigrated to Germany as a child where she later studied Archaeology and Graphic Design – combining both of her passions: Science and Art. After traveling the first time to Australia she fell in love with this country and promised herself to come back one day. 10 years later, she made her dream come true and immigrated to Australia for good, where she founded her own graphic design studio working as a freelance graphic designer.
​
Having experienced by herself that education can bring you to places you only dream about, her vision is to bring education to all children around this globe. Which is why she had founded “the Academy of the Past” - an educational program, where kids are going to be interactively thought about art, science and history.
She also believes in the power of self-education which can help you thrive and shift your mindset to become a better and healthier version of yourself. She is proud to be a co-founder of YEmpower Australia and shares her knowledge, energy and wisdom with the community in a way that enriches the experience of being in community.
Magda is a nature and animal lover, curious explorer, environmentalist, health enthusiast and #changemaker.
Sam Chung
Professional Gamer, Games Master, Storyteller
​
Sam is a game enthusiast. He has been gaming from the 1st generation Pokémon to Final Fantasy VII Remake. Sam currently has a particular fondness for tabletop games. He realized that as much as he liked winning in games, Sam liked the aspect of spending time with family and friends more. He enjoy finding ways to make gaming relevant to any topic and to endlessly drone on about how great playing games is not only for entertainment, but also for helping develop transferable and interpersonal skills.
Sam also has an interest in education. He likes teaching and explaining to others about the things he knows and understands. Sam has experience tutoring one-on-one and small classes of primary school and high school students. He doesn’t just teach students the content, he hopes to teach them life lessons in hopes they will not fall into many of the same traps he did when he was of school age.
Through gaming, Sam has become a much better version of himself and he wishes to leverage who he is now to give to the community in a way only Sam can.
Sam is very much looking forward to contributing to the YEmpower Skillshare Network and seeing everyone at the gaming table.
Co-Founder - YEMPOWER & OurBloc
​
Matt is a youth advocate, entrepreneur and artist. His joy is in aligning young people with their purpose, and identity, and in showcasing their efforts.
A working musician for 6 years, Matt took stock of the poor treatment those receive in the music industry. He founded Our Bloc Community Studio and Radio in 2021. More importantly, Our Bloc offers musical and technical educational opportunities, and improves accessibility outcomes in a traditionally prohibitive and exclusive industry. The core motive underlying Our Bloc is valuing creation. Matt understands the importance of sharing and building platforms to empower young people.
Matt is currently studying a degree in Audio Production and Sound Design at JMC Academy in Sydney.
Matthew Jeffrey
Ness Song
Co-Founder - YEMPOWER
​
Ness is a social entrepreneur, community builder and energy worker. Her passion is connecting Young Australians with the opportunities, knowledge and connections they need to grow and thrive.
Her mission is to provide young people with the tools, resources and opportunities she wished were accessible to her when she was 17.
​
Ness has spent the last five years of her professional career working with Young Australians, in high-level organising roles in the student advocacy, the NFP Sector, NSW and Australian Parliament and the Union Movement.
​
After spending most of her professional career looking for mentorship and guidance to no avail she began to think more deeply about the root causes of her experiences.
This led her to found YEmpower in early 2020.
​