About Aaron Ross

Aaron joined the YouthWorX NT team in September 2020 as a Youth Development Coach.

He is passionate about helping people realise their true potential. He has a wealth of experience from a career in sales and recruitment, and most recently Disability Employment Service and Jobactive. 

Aaron is currently studying for a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, he loves watches and all things electronic especially synth pop from the 80s.

About Liz Reid

Liz is the Executive Officer of YouthWorX NT. A not for profit organisation committed to partnering with Territorians in supporting their lifelong social, economic and career success. Responsible for the management of diverse programs which include life and career coaching, the delivery of services to support employability skills. Liz administers the overall operation, strategic development and corporate health of the organisation including finance and human resources.

Liz has 30+ years’ experience in the community, disability and social justice sectors. Liz has dedicated career in assisting others seek equitable opportunities to participate fully in their communities, reinforced by her passion for seeking demonstrated economic and social outcomes.

About Carina Frew

Carina is YouthWorX NT’s Business Service Advisor, providing high-level consultation, design, coaching and mentoring in the establishment and development of the organisation’s various services and programs.

Carina also coordinates YouthWorX NT’s youth Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy provides young people with opportunities to: represent as Youth Ambassadors; develop their skills and knowledge through professional development; develop and execute projects in their areas of passion; inform and shape local services for young people; and inspire other young people by sharing their stories.

Carina is a Career Development Professional, Mindset Practitioner and Accredited Extended DISC Consultant with over fourteen years’ experience in youth work and employment services in the Northern Territory.  An experienced and qualified Trainer, she is adept at strategic program development, particularly around self-awareness, aspiration-alignment and career development.  

Carina served as the Coordinator of YouthWorX NT’s Australian Government-funded Transition to Work service from the start of its contract in early 2016 through to the end of 2017.  She has developed and delivered numerous other programs for schools, not for profit organisations, jobactive providers, and the Australian and NT Governments. Carina is a national Coaching Young People for Success Program Authorised Trainer and provides two-day Leaders’ Accreditation Training to professionals around the empowerment of young people to create a life by their design.

About Robyne Brouwer

Robyne is the Operations Manager of YouthWorX NT and part of the management team. For over ten years, Robyne has been a part of YouthWorX NT and day-to-day takes care of all things finance and ensures the smooth running of the organisation, or simply, keeps the wheels turning.

Robyne studied Business at CDU and has a background in account management and work placement coordination. She takes great pride in improving the quality, productivity and efficiency of YouthWorX NT, but the achievement she holds highest and closest to her heart is becoming family CEO of two little girls. However, COVID-19 has taken this path on an un-predicted turn towards “home-schoolteacher”.

Working with an amazing team who help young people to improve their lives through building confidence and unearthing talents that leads to employment, education or other life success is inspiring to Robyne.

…and she loves coffee.

About Sim O'Callaghan

Sim has lived in Darwin since ‘95 and has dedicated her career to the Health and Community Services sector.  Starting as a nurse at Territory hospitals and clinics, she then moved into senior roles with the not-for-profit sector, including the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia as the NT Regional Manager and Community Support Incorporated as the NT Operations Manager. 

Taking a few years off to spend with her family she returned to work in 2014 joining the team at YouthWorX NT.  As Service Manager Sim loves being a part of the dedicated team and seeing the young people we work with achieve their goals and aspirations. 

Sim also loves cooking, camping, shopping, music and wine and thinks the best approach to life is being grateful, kind and not take life too seriously. 

About Scott Smith

In January 2019 Scott joined the Transition to Work Team as the Team Leader. He is passionate and dedicated to assisting young Territorians with achieving their goals in employment, education and training.

Along with his role as Team Leader, Scott also assists in facilitating the Leadership Academy, by providing mentoring to team members and on-the-ground support for the project. Before joining YouthWorX NT, Scott worked for 22 years within a variety of Management roles across multiple industries including Hospitality, Banking, Employment services, and the VET sector as well as working with remote communities, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge.

Outside of work, Scott has a passion for anything to do with nature. He is a keen gardener, beekeeper and animal lover. He has many years of experience caring and looking after orphaned or injured animals with Wildcare. Being able to help young people achieve their dreams and goals as well as working with a team of professional, passionate people that really care, is Scott’s favourite part of his job.

His words of wisdom are “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” For more information please call (08) 8981 8870 or email scott@ywnt.com.au

About Jolene Walsh

My role at YWNT is Youth Development Coach -  engagement – coaching, creating and running workshops; helping young people to rediscover their talents and strengths, and to start to map out where they want to go.

This career chose me. I have had an incredibly adventurous life which includes different types of jobs in various fields, I began working as a coach and workshop facilitator 8 years ago, now I use the potent combination of skills to assist young people in their journey.

Professional Accolades – NLP practitioner, Behavioural Profiler, Transformational Coach, Trainer and Assessor.

Fun Fact – Equine therapist, Horse Riding Instructor and am an Ex Rodeo Champion Barrel racer and Rodeo Queen.

About Hirini Murfitt

Hirini, or as we affectionately call him “H”, is one of our amazing Youth Development Coach’s.

H is fairly new to working within the Youth space. He spent a large chunk of his life in the NZ Army, and then went on to work as a commercial Diver, followed by building/construction roles, however I never felt that he was where he was supposed to be...

“An opportunity came up to work with Youth that were either disengaged, or requiring additional support, and it reminded me of what I was like at that age. I chose this career because I hope to help other Youth the way I was supported at their age.”

H’s lifetime accomplishments include touring in Afghanistan with NZDF and being awarded in both 2018 and 2019 the Sir Eric Johnston Medal for Northern Territory Rugby Union.

H’s favourite things in the world are his family (including his dog), playing rugby, and playing golf! 

About Sam Keating

Meet Sam!!

Sam joined the YouthWorX NT team as Pathways Coordinator in 2019. Sam has recently made Darwin his home after leaving Geelong and travelling around Australia in a bus with his wife an 4 beautiful kids.

With a strong background in Disability, Sam is an amazing asset to our team.

Sam coordinates the ILC Career Launchpad program providing specialised career coaching and vocational support for talented young people with different abilities in their transition from school and into the world of work.

About Lily Reid

Lily has lived in the NT for 20 years, working with YouthWorX NT for the last 7 years. In 2016, Lily became the Transition to Work Admin and worked closely with the Youth Development Coaches while studying her Diploma in Community Services (Case Management).

After completing her diploma, natural career progression saw Lily join the ranks of Youth Development Coach with the ILC Career Launchpad program. This program builds the skills and capacity of school leavers with diagnosed high functioning disabilities as they move into the world of work. She loves working our amazing young people and watching them grow into confident and independent young adults.

In her spare time, Lily teaches at a local dance studio and competes in local competitions and events. She had the awesome opportunity to represent the NT in the Heart-Kids SA/NT Charity TV Challenge, and shares her passion as a representative on the Northern Territory Disability Advisory Committee.

About Dave Villaflor

Dave has been a Youth Development Coach and part of our team since 2017.

Helping young people is his passion, especially in the area of employment and he has focused on this thought out his career. Dave holds a Diploma in Child Youth Family Intervention, and 15yrs experience supporting youth in the NT.

“Darwin is home for me and I Love this town so if I can contribute towards keeping this a great place than this is how I’m doing it.”

Fun facts: Sold a painting in high school for $150.00, Love my Barra fishing, immense passion for Martial Arts and combat sports, one of the highlights of my Life was travelling to Thailand to train and learn from living legends and the world’s best in the sport of Muay Thai.

About Caitlin Brynes

Caitlin is the Administration Officer for the Transition to Work Team, and one of our Leadership Academy Alumni.

She is a massive extrovert and loves interacting with people. Passionate about working with young people, she gets to work at the front desk, which technically means she has the biggest office!

Caitlin is currently studying a Cert III in Business, and has an interest in community services.

Caitlin loves to cook, and if you start talking to me about cooking and food it’s difficult to make her stop ????

About Sian Howell

Siân started with YouthWorX NT as one of our amazing Youth Development Coach's, since then has progressed her role to Employer Engagement Officer where she can show off her incredible organisational and people skills.

Siân always wanted a career where she could make a difference and empower others, but says It took me a while to figure out the exact pathway – until COVID-19 happened, and the universe stepped in to realign her direction.

Her love for coaching began as a personal curiosity back in 2015, blossoming into a career aspiration when she realised the untapped potential of this modality. In 2018 she created her coaching business adding the modalities reiki and tarot for deeper healing and a bit of fun with a focus on helping people manage their stress, anxiety and overall mental well-being.

Nominee for 2019 NT Young Achiever Award – Somerville Community Service Category
Nominee for 2019 NT Young Achiever Award – NT Government Small Business Achievement

Siân is a passionate volunteer for Share The Dignity and a co-host on a monthly podcast segment called “Fempower”

About Tanya Pederick

Tanya is a Trainer and Youth Development coach who we are lucky enough to have as part of our Career Launchpad and CareerStart programs.

Over her career, Tanya has enjoyed a number of roles including Media - radio and television, Sales, Marketing and Events, Chef and Baker, and has enjoyed every one of them. Tanya has qualifications in all of these areas and now enjoys training young people in their chosen field and helping them to find what they love to do.

Tanya loves camping out bush and baking cakes.

About Sophie Dehne

Sophie joined the YWNT Team late last year as a Youth Development Coach with the Transition to Work Team.

When Sophie is not in and around the office helping young people you can find her doing anything & everything outdoors! She loves her fishing and camping. Going to the national parks and swimming. A true Territory girl, Sophie was born in Katherine and grew up on a cattle station 200km south of Mataranka.

A piece of advice that she'd give to her younger self would be: Save! Save! Save! Adventure and explore!

About Luka Olesen

Luka joined the TtW team in the New Year as a Youth Development Coach.

In her spare time Luka enjoys eating out, cooking, reading and travelling.

A fun fact about Luka is that she was named after a song called Luka and she can play the violin, piano and guitar!!

Advice Luka would give to her teenage self: "Enjoy your teen years and getting to see your mates everyday at school and stop worrying so much about what everyone around you thinks!!"

About Jack Dowden

Jack joined the Transition to Work team as a casual towards the end of last year and has recently moved onto to being a full-time Youth Development Coach.

He has been doing a fantastic job ever since and we are so happy to have his chilled and laid back personality in our team. 

Fact for Jack is outside of YouthWorX, he runs skateboarding programs that focus on the empowerment of young Territorians.

If given the opportunity, he would advise his younger self to immerse yourself in ALL the activities, look after your friends and don’t ever lock eyes with a penguin.

About Emma Webster

Emma joined our team late last year as the Claims and Post Placement Support Officer.

She is an absolute legend with all things Claims and PPS. Employers and young people will often be hearing her voice on the other end of the line ready to support them in any way that she can.

A fun fact about Emma is that she has been ski diving! If she could give any advise to her younger self it would be "Don’t take life too seriously”