YAL Staff Meet the team

Tammy-Rae Schaper

With her father being involved in the YAL since she was a young girl, Tammy-Rae has grown up with an understanding of the YAL, but not really what it did. It wasn’t until 2013 when she came to help Jan in the office that Tammy-Rae really grew to have an understanding of the unique organisation that the YAL is.

Before coming to the YAL Tammy-Rae had been involved in many different management roles, from books with small business to a chain of timber flooring stores. With a background in Education, Youth Work and business she feels well placed to help steer the YAL into the future. While the corporate management world is very different from the non-for-profit world, she has enjoyed the more personal nature of the not-for-profit organisation.

Raising two daughters by herself, she continues to teach them the importance of giving back and the values of Love, Service and Tolerance.

Tammy-Rae considers YAL to be an amazing organisation with the power to make a real difference in the lives of young people throughout Australia. She is proud to be involved and can’t wait to see what the future brings.

Amanda Brickwood

Having worked with YAL for many years Amanda was already invested in the purpose and values of the organization before taking on the role of CFO in late 2020.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Entrepreneurship) from Curtin University and is a registered BAS Agent with the Tax Practitioners Board with many years consulting to SME’s under her belt.  While not following a traditional path into the CFO role, the experience and insights gleaned from working with numerous businesses in multiple industries and building her own business from the ground up leans into the unique CFO role required at YAL.

Amanda’s ties to family and community are evident in the dedication to her young family and being involved in their education and extra-curricular activities where possible (with an amazing husband shouldering the lion share of the work!) and her role on the management committee of Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association. Amanda is passionate about development and opportunity for young people and is honoured to be able to engage wholeheartedly in the future of YAL.

David Stanley

After many years of working in the sports and recreation industry, in 2019 David with his family left for the red sand in Uluru for an experience that few could have. With his hands-on approach and very bad dad jokes, David began working the housing office of Yulara to help provide housing for the workers that live and work in the resort and with his family experience the traditions and culture of the nation’s first people first hand. It was here that David found enjoyment in helping people learn new skills and helping the youth realise their full potential.

Joining the YAL team in Cairns in July of 2021 as the supervisor, David hopes to lead his team and pass on any knowledge to them as they work with Anglicare as part of the Q Step program in Cairns. Excited for the opportunity to be part of YAL, David is looking forward to see what the future brings for everyone involved with the organisation as well as the Q Step program in Cairns.

Georgie Lockyer

Georgie Lockyer is the third generation of the Schaper family tree, her Grandfather, Frank Schaper, being the first and Tammy-Rae Schaper being the second generation.

Georgie has grown up with YAL and started creating promotional videos and content from the young age of 13. Now 19 she is working part-time for YAL as the Creative Director whilst attending Murdoch University completing a Bachelor of Communication.

Her dream is to create a platform for creatives all over Australia, and give them the support she experienced from YAL.

Alannah O’Horo

Alannah began working for YAL in August 2021 as Tammy’s office assistant. Alannah is not only fascinated by the history of YAL but also excited to be a part of what YAL currently promotes and is working towards.

Alannah grew up on a small island off the coast of Ireland. After moving to Australia when she was 10 years old, she realized quickly how much she enjoys interacting with and learning about new people. Hearing about what background people come from and what challenges they have faced. How every new person you meet is different from the last with unique stories, beliefs, and values.

Working with YAL has given Alannah the ability to make a positive change in the lives of young Australians and she is excited by the thought that the work she does today could be a key part in the life stories shared by young people throughout Australia.

Jess

Jess is a 24-year-old Youth Work Student at Edith Cowan University with one year remaining. Before my current studies, she completed a Cert IV in Education Support, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and over half of a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies).

In 2022 she has undertaken the new Scholarship Coordinator role for YAL. In her position, Jess hopes to use my academic studies and lived experiences to assist the young people within the YAL scholarship program. As well as my new role with YAL, she works three days a week in a school kindergarten as an Education Assistant. Jess wants to support young people to grow, learn, and become the best versions of themselves. As a youth worker, her goal is to help vulnerable young people by providing them with the skills and opportunities to make informed choices that will improve their lives.

Outside of work and study, Jess loves to socialise with friends, take walks in nature, play with her cat and spend time drawing or painting. She is super excited to be starting up with YAL this year, and can’t wait to finish university and use the learnt skills to positively influence the lives of young people.

Howard Williams

Fabulous: the easiest way to describe Howie, after years of working in the hospitality and show biz industry, Howard has only recently ventured into housekeeping with his role in YAL Cairns. Having worked all across Australia Howard has a wealth of life experience and customer service knowledge to bring to the team. Recently Howard has started his journey into community service to help those in need and less fortunate to give himself an opportunity to grow and make the world a more “fabulous” place.

Raelene Hirama

Cairns born and raised, Raelene has a strong connection to the town, after spending recent years in Townsville, Raelene decided to move back to Cairns to be closer to family. A loving wife, mother, and Grandmother Raelene has a very kind-hearted nature and brings years of customer service to the team. Her North Queensland blood always comes out with the support of her Cowboys and secret fishing spots with the family on the weekend.

Deanna Thaiday

Recently joining the team is Cairns, is Deanna, her can-do attitude and very handy sewing skills are a joy to see for the staff at Cairns to wit. Having already worked at the premises before, Deanna is enjoying her time back at YAL Cairns, Can even be seen singing and dancing while she works.

A fitness enthusiast you will often find Deanna walking all over Cairns in her free time, as she says if my legs are not hurting then I have not walked enough.

Colleen Watchco

Loud and proud Cherbourg lady, Colleen is well travelled across the county and brings her experience and her Mother hen tendencies to Cairns, Quick-witted and a bit of Joker, Colleen’s laugh is very infectious and can be heard anywhere at the Cairns premises.

If you find anything leopard print around the place, chances are, Colleen already has it. A family-oriented mother, Colleen enjoys spending her spare time with Family and Friends having a joke and living life to the fullest.