Our renowned Community Action Projects address pressing social and economic needs and provide a tangible return on investment to the community from the Tasmanian Leaders Program.

Community Action Projects are delivered by Tasmanian Leaders Program participants working in small groups called Learning Sets. The Projects reinforce and develop learnings gained by participants during the year-long Tasmanian Leaders Program.

Participants are encouraged to complete their projects during the ten months of the Program, however, some may require additional time to implement and are completed post-graduation. The outcomes and insights from each year’s Community Action Projects are shared at an annual event for participants, partner organisations, Network members and our stakeholders.

The following guidelines apply in developing Projects. They should:

  • Be small enough to be achievable.
  • Be large enough to matter.
  • Aspire to make a positive contribution.
  • Increase community wellbeing.

Learning Sets adopt formal project management processes and often partner with existing not-for-profit organisations to ensure they are addressing real community needs and support collaborative initiatives for greater wellbeing.

 

Featured project: Leadership in Action: 100 Laptops in 100 Days

This project partnered with Hobart City Mission to help reduce digital exclusion across Tasmania by collecting and redistributing pre-owned laptops to people building digital skills and confidence. Through community donations, corporate support and strong public engagement, the initiative exceeded its original goal of 100 devices, securing almost 200 laptops and tablets for refurbishment and distribution.

Recipients are people who complete one-to-one digital literacy coaching and need a device at home to continue practising their skills. The project increased access to technology, reduced e-waste and created lasting opportunities for digital participation, connection and inclusion.

100 Laptops in 100 Days began as a simple question for the ImpactUS learning set: what practical action could we take together to help reduce digital exclusion in Tasmania?

Inspired by the success of the 2011 Tasmanian Leaders Community Action Project, 100 Door Snakes in 100 Days, the team adopted a similarly simple but practical approach: collect a needed item, mobilise community support and create a lasting positive impact.

The success of the project was strengthened by the outstanding support of APM Employment Services and Degree C. APM’s statewide office network provided accessible collection points across Tasmania, making the initiative truly statewide. Degree C donated significant in-kind electrical testing and safety expertise and time to ensure donated devices could be safely refurbished and redistributed.

Major corporate donations, and in-kind support, was provided by TasTAFE, Brennan, CareSuper, City of Hobart, Hydro Tasmania, CGI, Tassal, Hazell Bros and Edalex.

Following the conclusion of the project, Hobart City Mission continued accepting donated laptops at its shopfronts and distributing devices through its Tech Yeah – Digital Confidence and Community Connection program.

Tech Yeah - Digital Confidence & Community Connection
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Why an old laptop could change someone's future

By Naomi Jones-Black GTLP and Rose Schramm

A recent opinion piece exploring digital exclusion in Tasmania and the practical role communities can play in improving access to digital participation.

100 Laptops in 100 Days project has been featured in The Mercury, helping shine a light on the impact of digital exclusion across Tasmania.

Led by graduates of the 2025 Tasmanian Leaders Program in partnership with Hobart City Mission, the initiative is collected and redistributed laptops to people building digital skills and confidence.

In this opinion piece, project team member Naomi Jones-Black GTLP and Hobart City Mission Digital Trainer Rose Schramm reflect on why access to technology matters, what digital participation means in practice, and how communities can help create opportunity through simple, practical action.

About the authors

Naomi Jones-Black GTLP is a graduate of the 2025 Tasmanian Leaders Program and a member of the 100 Laptops in 100 Days project team.

Rose Schramm is a Digital Trainer with Hobart City Mission, supporting Tasmanians to build confidence and capability in the digital world.

Read the article in full
Hero promotional graphic tile for 100 Laptops x 100 Days. a stylised graphic of a laptop screen and keyboard in white on a blue to navy gradient background. Mid brown cartoon hands are typing on the keyboard. The screen on the keyboard has text "100 Laptops x 100 Days" in blue. Below this graphic to the left bottom corner is white text "Helping bridge Tasmania's digital divide"

100 Laptops in 100 Days

TLP 2025: Joel Allison, Andrew Bennett, Nnamdi Eseme, Naomi Jones-Black, Jose Matteo, Louise Mills

This project partnered with Hobart City Mission to help reduce digital exclusion across Tasmania by collecting and redistributing pre-owned laptops. Through community donations and corporate support, almost 200 laptops and tablets were collected and refurbished for people building digital skills and confidence. The initiative reduced e-waste while helping more Tasmanians connect, learn and participate in an increasingly digital world.

Tech Yeah - Digital Confidence & Community Connection
Pickle for a Giggle promotional tile. Two people dressed as clown doctors are posed on a purple solid colour background. at the top of the image is a white rectangle with 'pickle for a giggle' in pink and purple. next to the white rectangle is white text "a fun teams pickleball event' On the right towards the middle of the image is a yellow pickle ball, sitting in front of a pink start shape. In the centre of the star shape is white text "Monday 9 February 2026" At the left lower corner of the tile is a partial light purple star shape and pink star shape. In the centre of the light purple star shape is white text "Hobart Netball Centre". On the right lower corner is a white rectangle with 'Clown Doctors Australia" logo text in purple and pink. Next to this is white text "Raising funds & awareness for" and "Supported by" with the Tasmanian Leaders logo

Pickle for a Giggle

TLP 2025: Team members - Pieter Boon, Hilary Cooper, Bec Ladd, Tania May, Anne Rathjen and Tim Shepherd

Pickle for a Giggle used one of Australia's fastest-growing sports to bring people together while raising funds for Clown Doctors Australia in Tasmania. The event welcomed players of all abilities and exceeded its fundraising target, raising more than $27,000 to support programs in hospitals and aged care settings.

Clown Doctors Australia
Photo of part of the NARLE project installation in George Town gallery. A long timber table with a frame around two sides is in the middle ot the image. On top of the table are 6 prototype models made of cardboard of various shapes. at the back of the table is another open timber frame, with a table behind that holding more prototypes and panels. to the sides and back of the image is a blurred group of people including adults and school children

The NARLE Project

TLP 2024: Team Members - Shanelle Clapham, Patrick Fabian, Andrew Johnson, Kaylia Marshall, Alicia Sargent and Kath Wilson.

The NARLE Project (an anagram of LEARN) worked with Grade 5 and 6 students across three George Town schools to build problem-solving skills through hands-on design. Students explored real-world challenges, developed creative solutions and showcased their work in a public exhibition celebrating young people, innovation and community.

The NARLE Project

Welcome Back(pack) Project

TLP 2019: Team members - Emily Chase, Katrina Kelly, Jennifer McKenzie, Tom Remenyi, Jen Smit and Chris Warr

This project supported women transitioning out of prison in Tasmania by providing practical backpacks filled with everyday essentials. Each participant received clothing, toiletries and information about local services to help ease the transition back into the community. By meeting immediate needs at a critical point in their lives, the initiative promoted dignity, stability and connection.

Dress for Success Tasmania

TLP 2016: Team members – Robin Barnes, Louise Bishop, Donna Brown, Amanda French, Michael Giudici and Jeff Harper.

This project established Dress for Success Tasmania, bringing the internationally recognised program to the state for the first time. By creating the foundations for a service that provides professional clothing, practical resources and ongoing support, the initiative continues to help Tasmanian women build confidence, prepare for employment and move toward economic independence.

Dress for Success Tasmania

Welcome Dinner Project

TLP 2014: Team members – Shawn Lee, Alice Percy, Andrew Pitt, Misty Sanderson, Scott Schilg and Don Thomson.

The Welcome Dinner Project brings together new migrants and established Tasmanians to share food, conversation and connection in a relaxed, home-based setting. By establishing the program in Tasmania and securing initial funding, the initiative created opportunities for lasting relationships across cultures and a strong foundation for future growth.

Hand-made With Pride

TLP 2012: Team members – Cheryl Fuller, Tracey Tasker, Sue Robertson, David Hugo, John Hooper and Allan Walsh

This project partnered with Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison to establish a practical sewing program that built skills, confidence and purpose. Participants learned new skills while producing clothing for themselves and the wider community, creating pathways to rehabilitation and reintegration.

100 Door Snakes in 100 Days

TLP 2011: Team members – Lucy Byrne, Steve Henty, Brett McDermott, Dean Mundey, Alan Rosevear and Julie Waddington

Partnering with Anglicare Tasmania, this project created and distributed 100 handmade draught stoppers for people in supported accommodation. The initiative reduced heat loss, improved winter comfort and demonstrating how practical, low-cost solutions can benefit both people and the environment.

Road Safety Bike Park

TLP 2010: Team members – Shona Beswick, Mark Jefferson, Kacey Rubie and Darryn Smith

This project created a free community road safety bike park in Sheffield to help children build confidence and practical road skills. Developed with local partners, the park provides a safe environment to learn before riding on public roads. The initiative continues to support road safety education and safer communities across the region.

Northern Young Professionals

TLP 2008: Team members – Fionna Bourne, Susie Bower, Sam Ibbott, Katherine Miguel, Ben O’Donnell and Craig Perkins

This project established the Northern Young Professionals Network (NYPN), creating opportunities for emerging leaders to connect, learn and grow across Northern Tasmania. What began as a Community Action Project has evolved into an independently managed network that continues to support professional development and meaningful connection across the region.