AT SONDER,
Our mission is to improve youth mental health through positive action.
We inspire youth to create positive change to their mental wellbeing. We provide young people with the tools, knowledge, experience and confidence to be agents of positive change in their community. We create a ripple effect throughout the community, inspiring people to do the thing.
Our Values
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Assume best intent. Compassion for others. Be kind to yourself. Generosity. Gratitude. Respect.
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We can make change. We can learn, grow, and change things for better. Our actions have a ripple effect.
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Step up. Show up. Follow through. Do things that matter. Make positive change. Be brave. Do what needs to be done.
Our Mission
Our mission is to improve youth mental health through positive action.
Educate
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Innovate
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Empower
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Educate 〰️ Innovate 〰️ Empower 〰️
CORE PRINCIPLES
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Designed to support youth wellbeing, teaching positive wellbeing strategies and supporting long-term behavioural change
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Give participants a voice to address the issues which matter to THEM
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Increase participants' belief in themselves and their abilities
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Using the above strategies to support young people to be more resilient when facing challenges
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Collaboration, peer-to-peer support and an opportunity to connect with people outside their circle
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Provides an avenue to connect with community and develop a sense of belonging
BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS
The wellbeing impacts of the Changemakers Program are assessed using the EPOCH Measure for Adolescent Wellbeing.
We compare participants' wellbeing before and after the program, which has demonstrated improvements to:
ENGAGEMENT
PERSEVERANCE
CONNECTION
HAPPINESS
Sonder Youth is run by young people, for young people.
Our team consists of young South Coast locals who are experienced Changemakers.
Avalon Bourne
CEO
Described by young people as: encouraging, dedicated, inclusive
Avalon has a Masters in Positive Psychology and is passionate about empowering individuals and communities to create positive change as a means to improve their own wellbeing. Avalon has worked on grassroots change projects in Vietnam, India and Kenya. She has also built her own tiny home!
Gabbi Walker
Program Coordinator
Described by young people as: loving, warm, accomodating
Gabbi is passionate about everything Sonder stands for. She loves getting to see young people make a change and achieve their goals, no matter how big or small. As a Changemaker alumni, Gabbi is excited to give young people a chance to feel heard and capable of making positive changes in their community. Outside of Sonder, she tries to see as much live music as possible and is almost always deep-diving into a show, book or movie that is her latest interest. Her experiences working with and connecting with young people through Sonder inspired her to study Primary Education at UOW, where she hopes to continue supporting and empowering young people throughout her career.
Takesa Frank
Projects and Sustainability Officer
Described by young people as: welcoming, caring, patient
Takesa has a degree in Geography majoring in Human Geography and minoring in Indigenous Studies. When she’s not working with Sonder Youth you’ll find her doing things to support her community. Takesa is passionate about First Nations & social justice, and protecting our planet. Takesa enjoys working with Sonder Youth as she gets to empower young people in the local community to create the changes they wish to see.
Bella Dewsbury-Love
Youth Engagement Liaison
Described by young people as: authentic, considerate, positive
Being around Sonder for six years now, Bella truly loves being a part of Sonder’s work. When not in her Sonder shirt, Bella can be found in the community playing AFL, choreographing musicals or getting a breaky burger from Punch the Ploughman! A serious passion for new experiences and understanding all parts of the world, Bella has travelled across South America, Europe and the UK, and is not slowing down anytime soon. She hopes to work towards a community where changes to create a sustainable environment and strengthen human connections are prioritised, and hopefully ripple into the wider world.
Em McNeil
Community Engagement Officer
Described by young people as: lively, compassionate, kind
Em is a recent high school graduate and Changemakers alumni. She is committed to empowering young people to take action and create the changes they wish to see in the world. Emily’s dedication to sustainability and mental health drives her to inspire others to appreciate the beauty in life’s small, everyday moments. She is thrilled to be part of the Sonder team, and is excited to contribute to and further the positive impact Sonder continues to make within the community. Em loves beach days, sunny adventures, and quality time with her sausage dog, Cosmo.
Will Dewsbury-Love
Partnerships Manager
Described by young people as: cheerful, humorous, empathetic
Will is currently studying a bachelor of Primary Education at UOW. Will's first experience with Sonder Youth was in 2021 where he attended the South Coast Changemakers Forum, evidentially falling in love with Sonder's message. Through Sonder, Will found a passion for supporting young people to identify issues in their community, and then providing the resources for them to make positive change. Will loves a good belly laugh, a crisp swim at the beach, and the occasional boogie!
Sid George
Mental Health Support Officer
Described by young people as: empathetic, funny, passionate
One of the keys to Sid’s heart is through Sonder Youth. From his journey as a participant to now a social worker here, Sid cherishes the strong friendships, connections and memories he continues to make. His time with Sonder Youth has shaped his passion into working alongside young people to shape the future. You can mostly find Sid either: by the beach, in the bush, or having his daily dose of coffee.
Our Board Members
Sonder Youth is a Company Limited by Guarantee and is governed by an elected Board of Directors who oversee our policy, direction and governance.
Sammi Stiff
Sammi is Sonder’s Board Co-Chair and feels so lucky to have lived her whole live in the Shoalhaven. She loves spending time with her family and friends, sharing stories, music and laughter, especially over a lovely meal. Sammi loves being in, on or around water, but she spends most of her spare time living the farm life with her partner, highland cows, dogs, cats and many house plants. This has led her to the discovery that there is in fact such thing as too many house pets!
Sammi has worked with young people across the Shoalhaven for over 10 years across multiple job roles, but her favourite has been working with headspace Nowra as Community Engagement Officer and now as Work and Study Supervisor.
Sammi is passionate about many things, but the standout is ensuring young people have support and a safe space to achieve their own version of success.
Jessica Richardson
Having grown up on the South Coast, Jess is stoked to be able to be back living the saltwater lifestyle on the Shoalhaven and working for the community and young people in local government. Jess is a Community Development and Public Health professional, with experience working in Australia with migrants and refugees and in Vanuatu with women and people with disability on social inclusion and physical health programs. Jess is starting an adventure as a new mum and loves the change in pace and reminders to go with the flow. Plus she can't wait to show her bub the world!
Christian Avasalu
With a Bachelor's of Physical and Health Education and 5 years experience in Outdoor Education, Christian is a teacher of Science and Mathematics at The Scots College - Glengarry Campus. Having grown up on the South Coast of NSW, Christian has a rich experience and appreciation for the needs of his community. He is a lover of all things outdoors, hiking, riding, climbing and surfing and has a passion for ecology, health and the empowerment of young people. One of his self-confessed, fatal flaws is keeping far too many houseplants for any one human to look after.
Sharlina Swan
Sharlina is part owner of Financial Dynamics, chartered accountant, and mother of three grown girls.
Her passions are helping businesses and people, health and fitness, and continued personal growth. She just loves to get out in this area of ours and enjoy all it has to offer. Not only the stunning environment but also getting to know the beautiful community members.
When Sharlina had the opportunity to join the board of directors of Sonder, she was quick to put up her hand as it not only aligned with her values, but she loved what Sonder stood for. Sharlina has always been interested in people's stories, the psychology of people, and the amazing insights that can come from our youth.
Sharlina’s goal every day is to have someone say that she has made a difference in their life or in some small way, she made their day better. She is looking forward to bringing this to her new role, and being part of the journey and future of Sonder.
Hayden Fineran
Hayden has worked across the community sector for over 7 years for both Local Government and the Not for Profit, where he currently managers a large team across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven for the Flagstaff Group, supporting people living with a disability to find and engage in employment. He is a passionate advocate for people living with a disability, gender equality and First Nations people. When he’s not at work, you’ll find Hayden either training for Strongman or Martial Arts or enjoying time with his wonder wife, Caroline.
Saffy Fox
Saffy is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Secondary Education, with the goal of becoming a high school teacher who not only educates but also empowers students to create meaningful change. She has been involved with Sonder Youth for over three years, first as a participant and later as a leader. Wanting to stay connected with the incredible community she found at Sonder, Saffy joined the board at the first opportunity. Outside of her studies, she is passionate about sport and the outdoors, spending summers and autumns playing Polocrosse, and winters snowboarding. Born and raised in the Shoalhaven, she feels grateful to call such a beautiful place home.
Lucinda Knapp
Lucinda leads with a sense of humor, a take no prisoners approach, and a sharp legal mind that spots issues before most people finish their sentence. With twenty years of experience in the legal sphere, she is savvy, reads between the lines with impressive accuracy, and delivers advice that is clear, strategic, and surprisingly easy to follow. She handles chaos like it is a recreational activity and somehow gets results while keeping everyone laughing. Grace the dog has confirmed she is acceptable.
Want to contact the Sonder Youth Board?
Send us a message below.
Featured
Press, Podcasts, Awards and more
2026 ActewAGL Shoalhaven Business Awards, Outstanding Young Business Leader: Avalon Bourne, WINNER
Check us out in the 2025 ABC Trailblazers
2026 Shoalhaven City Council, Young Citizen of the Year Award: Bella Dewsbury-Love, WINNER
2024 NSW Youth Work Awards, Outstanding Youth Participation, WINNER
2024 NSW Youth Work Awards, NSW Emerging Youth Worker of the Year: Takesa Frank, WINNER
Watch Takesa and Avalon speak on NextGen, UNICEF Australia’s podcast about climate anxiety here and here, January 28 2024
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