Feature written by Hermione Taylor
When Rhea submitted her story for the ABC Heywire Youth Competition, she didn’t know it would lead to the start of a project to ripple across Australia. Herself and four other winners travelled down to Canberra, split into groups, and were tasked with pitching a project for real-world change. They developed the idea of We Are Not Alone (WRNA) – a grassroots movement amplifying the voices of young people with disabilities in regional Australia. A year later, backed by a grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), they brought the idea to life with their first WRNA day in Toowoomba.
That inaugural day wasn’t just an event – it was a turning point.
“People being seen and heard really stood out to me,” Rhea shares. One moment remains special to her. A young participant approached a guest panellist and said, “I feel so valued and seen.” Several young participants expressed how they finally felt so seen, heard and valued.
Moments like that are exactly why WRNA exists – to ensure that young people living with disability know they aren’t alone and that their voices have power.
The success of that day was built on local ties. Rhea was already connected with Toowoomba Regional Council through her previous participation in the council’s volunteer youth programme, helping to secure partnerships and build trust within the community.
“We always ensure that the people who live in that community are at the forefront of what we design and what we do”, she explains. WRNA isn’t just about representation – it’s about authentic leadership. It empowers local voices rather than speaking over them.
Since that day, the project has continued to grow. WRNA has held a youth-led workshop in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, further proving the demand for this kind of space in regional areas. They have also participated in a panel as part of Mental Health Week.
Each community brings its own stories, but the core message remains the same. As Rhea reflects, “To see the positive feedback of a region all the way in South Australia be the same as in Toowoomba… wow. We do have the capacity to make change”.
In regional areas, inclusion can feel distant or misunderstood. Rhea and her team are working to change that. Working against the belief that living with a disability is a negative problem that needs to be fixed, Rhea is hoping that ‘We Are Not Alone’ is able to change the traditional view of disability being based on a medical model, to the social and human rights model.
“Young people living with disability absolutely can be leaders”
Creating a sense of connection in these regional communities to make sure that every environment of every opportunity is accessible and looked at through an intersectional lens.
The road hasn’t always been easy. From limited funding to full-time university work, the WRNA team has found ways to keep pushing forward.
“We [We Are Not Alone] have faced more challenges than successes… we as a team see challenges as an opportunity to learn and reflect… we try to be proactive towards challenges rather than reactive”
Looking ahead, she envisions a larger initiative – an eight-week programme for 12 young people across regional Queensland to come together, connect and carry the WRNA message back to their communities.
We Are Not Alone started as an idea. Today, it’s a growing movement that challenges ableism, inspires hope, and creates real change.
“If you have an idea… pursue it … believe in your idea and ability to create change… your voice is powerful” A strong statement of encouragement given by Rhea to inspire those to be the change they want to see.
“Take every opportunity as it comes”
We Are Not Alone (WRNA) is a regional movement of youth disability justice and empowerment for young people living with disabilities, chronic illness and/ or who are neurodivergent. Keep up to date with WRNA over on instagram.
About Hermione
Hermione Taylor is a business management student specialising in sports.
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