Anne Urquhart (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm extremely proud to say that the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania was awarded to Braddon local Alyssia Kennedy, a remarkable young woman who has turned her own lived experience into meaningful change.

After leaving school, Alyssia discovered gaps familiar to many young Australians. Despite strong academic results, she found herself without the practical life skills needed to navigate adulthood: budgeting, managing bills, completing a tax return. She learnt these lessons the hard way, but she was determined that others shouldn't have to. Alyssia created the Upturned Tasmania program Life After School, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world skills. She now works with schools and youth groups to empower young people with the confidence and capability they need to thrive as adults. Alyssia's vision is simple but also powerful: every young person deserves the tools to succeed in life, not just in school. Her dedication is helping build a more capable and confident generation of young Tasmanians. I want to congratulate Alyssia on this outstanding achievement and thank her for the profound contribution she's making to young people right across Tasmania. Her work is transforming lives today and strengthening our future but also the future of our young people.

On 26 January I attended the 128th annual Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic, at West Strahan Beach. This event is one of the West Coast's most enduring and treasured community traditions. For more than a century, the picnic has brought together workers, families and visitors from right across the region, and it continues to reflect the resilience, camaraderie and deep sense of belonging that define the West Coast community of Tasmania. It began with mine workers travelling from Queenstown to Strahan Beach by train in 1897, and that tradition has continued every year. From traditional games and footraces to the food stalls that local volunteers prepared with such pride, the day once again showcased the spirit of a community that support one another through good times but also through tough times. It is this spirit that has ensured the picnic not only survives but thrives generation after generation. I give a big thanks to the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic Committee and volunteers who make this event possible each year. Their dedication keeps an important part of West Coast history alive. Events like the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic remind us of the importance of local traditions that bring people together. I look forward to continuing to support this remarkable community and the events that reflect its proud history.

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