Headspace Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
I have volunteered with the Headspace YAC since 2024 which is a group of young people that meets monthly to plan community events and activities that benefit other young people.
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As part of my role on the YAC I had the privilege of presenting at the Future Ready Neuro-Inclusion conference held in June 2025 in front of over 100 local business owners, managers and staff. My passion for creating inclusive environments for all brains, and the recent publication of my resource "Communication and Teamwork Skills to Support Neurodiversity" gave me the confidence to be involved. I spoke 3 times throughout the day in a segment that was called "Teagan's Tips" where I presented key takeaways for attendees, drawing on my lived and professional experiences. I received very positive verbal feedback from conference attendees and other presenters, who learnt valuable and practical information from my segments which they could take back to their workplaces. I also built my own confidence in public speaking, which is an area I am less confident in. Not only was I able to encourage reflection and self-awareness in conference attendees, but I was also able to develop it in myself. I was able to consider how I act as a leader in the community and whether there were changes I could make to ensure I was being as inclusive and accepting as I could be. One tip that really stood out to me was the importance of sharing the meeting agenda prior to a meeting, to ensure attendees feel prepared. I later had the opportunity to utilise this learning in my work on the SHS mentor development site and was pleased with the positive feedback I received.
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I enjoy how my role with the YAC challenges me to develop my leadership skills and provides opportunities to support and engage with my local community. I enjoy being able to connect with other young people and I find passion in how our shared voices can contribute to positive change.
Me presenting at the Future Ready Neuro-Inclusion Conference.
Me presenting at the Future Ready Neuro-Inclusion Conference.
Me at the Halloween movie night, an event organised through Headspace.
Autism Camp Australia (ACA)
ACA (an organisation that has since ceased operations due to NDIS funding changes in 2025) ran family camps for autistic young people aged 7-14. I began my connection with ACA in 2023 as a volunteer, before joining the team as a carer. This meant I was matched 1-on-1 with an autistic young person and would spend the week-long camp supporting them to engage in the program activities. I also supported regulation throughout the day, including when meltdowns and shutdowns occurred, and building skills and confidence in the young person.
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Initially I joined ACA as a volunteer as I wanted to gain more experience working with neurodivergent young people. But the safe and inclusive environment cultivated at this camp which gave the young people every opportunity to be wholly, unapologetically themselves, filled my heart with so much joy that I kept going back. I felt so privileged to see and be part of the positive environment that led to incredible growth and confidence for so many young people.
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As a carer, I worked with a number of young autistic people with high support needs and who had co-occurring conditions such as intellectual disabilities, deafness, anxiety and bipolar. This meant I needed to be aware and alert at all times as some of the camp activities were offsite or near busy roads. I often had to make split second decisions and expect the unexpected. An example of this was when I was supporting a deaf young person who was experiencing a meltdown offsite. They had escalated with little warning. I had to keep myself calm and level-headed while ensuring the young person didn't put themselves in a dangerous situation or inadvertently hurt those around them. This involved directing others to leave the space, removing dangerous objects and keeping myself safe. I also had to ensure I was communicating clearly with my young person and that my face was visible to them so they could read my lips. In creating this safe environment for this young person, they were able to express their emotions and rejoin the group once they felt regulated. After supporting this person for the week, I was able to witness their immense growth as by the end of camp, they felt safe enough with me to communicate if they wanted to leave the situation, rather than escalating immediately. This growth occurred due to my role modelling, open communication and the safe environment I had cultivated.
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Through ACA I developed confidence in myself and my abilities, trusting myself to advocate for the needs of the young person I was supporting. I also learnt about the power of positive role modelling for young people, rather than simply telling them to do something a particular way, it is so important to allow them to guide their own path, while you provide support in the background.
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I was also pleased to be able to draw on some of the skills and knowledge I had developed over my Psychology degree in my role as a carer. The opportunity to apply principles like active listening, co-regulation and practical knowledge of the brain and brain development in young people was very rewarding. It really allowed me to see the connection between the skills I have built in my studies and they skills I will take with me into the workforce.
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ACA Testimonials
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The pictures below show me in my ACA uniform at camp (with the young people next to me cropped out for their privacy). There are also testimonials from parents of the young people.
Definitely had the most amazing time. Teagan was the most caring young woman. My kids had a fantastic time and so did I. Exploring the area on my own knowing my kids were safe was very therapeutic. We will definitely be doing another camp. Great memories made.
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~ ACA Parent
Wow!!! What a fantastic match for our Thomas. Teagan was a fantastic support for Tom. She was so supportive, kind, caring and fun. You could tell she is very passionate about her role at ACA. She always updated us and filled us in everyday. Thomas absolutely loved Teagan and they had a fantastic connection from day one.
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~ ACA Parent
Residential Leader (RL)
In 2022 I was one of the RL's selected for Parkes College at Deakin Res. Selection for this role involved a formal application and interview process. My role throughout the year was to act as a first point of contact for any residents who needed support or who had questions about university. I worked alongside a diverse RL team to support the Campus Life staff running events and activities on campus and providing input and suggestions to improve life on res. I knew how hard it was starting university while also moving away from home, and I wanted to be a friendly and supportive face that could help ease that experience for new residents.
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I took every opportunity provided as an RL, as well as going beyond the scope of the role in organising and running my own event. This event aligned with R U OK day; a day dedicated to promoting conversations about mental health and suicide. This is a topic I am very passionate about, having personal experience with mental ill health. The day included activities such as mindful colouring, and a yoga and meditation class followed by a colour run/ walk (people walk around a pre-defined track and are 'sprayed' with coloured chalk along the way). In the lead up to the day, I also organised a raffle which raised $554.80 for the R U OK day charity. I developed my communication and organisation skills liaising with local business, including the Geelong Cats AFL, to source prizes for the raffle, and to ensure the days events ran smoothly. ​Through this leadership experience I was able to bring a range of residents together to have fun while also raising funds for a worthwhile cause.
As an RL I learnt the how important it is for leaders to be approachable. Given the diverse cohort of students in my building, I made sure to maintain a friendly demeanour, never wanting to appear as though my leadership role meant I was 'more important'. Alongside the other two RL's in my building, we organised regular building dinners, which provided an informal space for resi's to come and chat and connect with each other. It was so pleasing to see many of my resi's move on to become RL's themselves, knowing that how I presented as an RL sparked an interest in them to apply for the role.
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Additionally, I took my love for reading and joined with a fellow RL to create a book library. I felt a majority of the events of res events catered to larger groups, or were high energy, and there was a gap for those who preferred their own company, or quieter activities. To create the book library myself and fellow RL liaised with the Campus Life team to organise an unused bookshelf to be donated for our use. We created a sign, printed bookish quotes and promoted the space within the res community. We were also interviewed about the creation of the book library for this res blog page. The book library received a very positive response from residents and staff alike. It was also very exciting also to see the book library move to its own private room which was fitted with beanbags and a larger bookshelf (to accommodate the growing collection) the following year. I was no longer an RL but I was pleased to see the success of the initial idea. Through this project, I learnt the value of creating spaces that may not cater to the majority. Reading is not an activity everyone enjoys, but for those who see it as a relaxing activity, the book library is the perfect space. I also learnt that not all leadership events or projects are immediately visible. For the book library, it's success comes from the quiet, often unseen engagement of residents borrowing books, adding their own to the collection, or using the space for a study break.​
My RL certificate
My RL headshot.
The end of the Colour Run concluding R U OK day.
The book library initial set-up.