Reconnecting Youth Program

Youth Multidisciplinary Program Team

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  Maung Hnin Thwe

  Community Liaison & Partnerships Lead

  Acts as a connector with partner organisations and ensures accurate representation of community feedback. Maung Hnin Thwe is the Director of Comfort Care Community Services and a dedicated community leader committed to delivering culturally safe and person-centred support. Drawing on her lived experience as a refugee, she has developed a strong passion for supporting vulnerable individuals and strengthening community connections through advocacy, care, and empowerment initiatives. She is also the founder of Karuna Compassion in Action, an organisation focused on supporting vulnerable migrant and refugee communities through welfare support, volunteerism, and community advocacy to help build a more inclusive and connected society. Maung Hnin Thwe’s leadership, compassion, and ongoing contribution to community development were recognised through her receipt of the Wyndham Business Person of the Year 2025 award.

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  Ah Eh Soe

  Community Engagement Lead

  Leads community engagement ensuring inclusivity, cultural safety, and accessibility. Ah Eh Soe is the Community Engagement Lead, with a strong focus on community engagement, partnership building, and maintaining meaningful connections with community members, participants, and key stakeholders. Ah Eh also serves as a main contact person for the project, helping to ensure clear communication, coordination, and trusted relationships across the work. Ah Eh brings over 30 years of experience in community engagement and youth work. He currently serves as Secretary of the Australian Karen Organisation Victoria and holds a Diploma in Community Services.

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  Sa Hay Blut Moo Soe

  Youth Coordination and Music Lead

  Has Hay supports youth coordination and leads music activities that strengthen creativity, confidence, identity and belonging. Music provides another pathway for young people to participate, connect with culture, work with others and express their experiences.

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  Hsa Sher Blu

  Art and Youth Coordinator Lead

  Moe leads art and creative expression while coordinating youth participation and engagement. Through visual arts, storytelling, communication and youth follow-up, Moe helps young people build confidence, share experiences, develop new skills and remain connected to the program.

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  Shadow Toke

  Data, Research & Advocacy Lead

  Analyse community consultation data, identifying recommendations, and translating community voices into evidence-informed advocacy. Shadow Toke (BHS, BH-BMED) is a dedicated PhD candidate (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The University of Melbourne), research assistant (Deakin University), S'gaw Karen-English interpreter, and a bi-cultural worker (CoHealth). As a proud member of the Karen community, she is driven by a strong commitment to reduce health disparities and promote well-being among Karen people. Utilising her eclectic experiences, knowledge and skills she aims to empower and uplift her community to thrive.

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  Ko Yeh Talor

  Cultural Safety & Quality Lead

  Ensures culturally safe practices in all project activities and consultation processes. Ko Yeh Talor is a dedicated Settlement Support Worker supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees across Ararat, Wyndham, and Geelong. He plays an important role in helping communities navigate settlement, strengthen social connection, and build a sense of belonging. Ko Yeh is an active community leader in Ararat, serving as President of the Ararat Community Garden, where he coordinates meetings, organises community events, and supports community participation. He also contributes to local wellbeing initiatives through vegetable donations to Ararat Neighbourhood House. Ko Yeh is a committed member of Rural Australians for Refugees and supports advocacy, inclusion, Welcome Week activities, and fundraising for refugee and asylum seeker communities. He also volunteers with Ararat Community Meals and has led Karen and Solomon Islander volunteers in bushfire recovery efforts in Pomonal, supporting affected farmers and residents through community rebuilding.

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  Mark Htoosaw Kunoo

  Budget Lead

  Manages project financial planning, monitors spending, and ensures accountability within the budget. Mark Htoosaw Kunoo is the Budget Lead, responsible for supporting project financial planning, monitoring spending, and ensuring budget accountability. Mark is a respected Karen community leader and multicultural education support professional based in Victoria. He works as a Multicultural Education Aide in the Victorian public education system and also serves as Treasurer for Karuna Compassion in Action Inc. In 2024, Mark was recognised with the Lalor Hero Award for his outstanding service and contribution to the local community. He was also selected as an official community artist for Wyndham City Council’s Mother Tongue permanent public art installation, helping represent Karen language, culture, and community heritage.