Meet the TEAM
Linking the Next Steps is led by a passionate team of professionals, volunteers, lived-experience advocates, and community members committed to creating opportunities for individuals living with invisible disabilities and their families.
Emma Wallis
Dip. Community Services
Cert IV in TAE
Co-Founder LTNS
Board President
Emma co-founded Linking the Next Steps because she believes everyone deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling life with the right support behind them. While studying the Diploma of Community Services at Victoria University, she met Tarnia Cooper, and what began as a joint project during their studies quickly grew into a shared vision to create meaningful opportunities for people with neurodivergent and invisible disabilities, empowering them to build confidence, independence, community connections, and pathways to employment.
With a Diploma of Community Services and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Emma has supported neurodivergent individuals and people living with invisible disabilities, seeing first-hand the difference that genuine, person-centred support can make.
Today, Emma drives LTNS with a focus on making sure participants feel heard, valued, and empowered to achieve their goals. Outside of work, she's a proud solo mum to two teenagers and a cavoodle who firmly believes he's the third child.
Tarnia Cooper
Dip. Community Services
Cert IV in TAE
Co-Founder LTNS
Board Vice-President
Drawing on more than 20 years of lived experience advocating for and supporting people with neurodivergent and invisible disabilities, I have seen first-hand the challenges many young people face when pursuing employment. I have also witnessed the significant impact these barriers can have on both their own mental wellbeing and that of their families, adding to the many challenges they already experience in everyday life.
These experiences enabled me to identify an important gap. Often, it is not a lack of ability or willingness to learn, but the way essential skills are communicated and taught. By presenting information in a way that is practical, relatable, and easier to understand, I help people recognise their strengths, build confidence, and develop the practical skills needed to succeed in employment, higher education, and everyday life.
I am the Co-Founder of Linking the Next Steps Inc., a charity I established alongside Emma Wallis after we met while studying the Diploma of Community Services at Victoria University. What began as a joint project during our studies quickly became a shared vision to create meaningful opportunities for people with neurodivergent and invisible disabilities, empowering them to build confidence, independence, community connections, and pathways to employment.
Jordan
BA Community Development
Board Secretary
Coming Soon!
Andrew
Board Tresurer
Coming Soon!
Abbagayle
BA Criminology
Board Member
Coming Soon!
Jospeh
Dip Community Services
Board Member
Coming Soon!
