Laura Johnson is a proud Palawa woman and advocate for mental health and suicide prevention.
After struggling with her own mental health and supporting her sister with a severe eating disorder, she founded THEIRS (Talk, Hear and Help, Educate, Inform, Refer and Support), a community-driven organisation addressing gaps through impactful events. In 2024, THEIRS brought Jazz Thornton to northwestern Tasmania, impacting over 80,000 people.
Laura advocates for youth mental health at various levels, including by speaking in parliament. She sits on multiple mental health boards and committees and is often the youngest member and has been invited to speak at schools across the state.
She’s been widely recognised, winning a LiFE Award for Suicide Prevention, named a 2024 Heywire Trailblazer, a finalist for Young Tasmanian of the Year, winner of the MAIB Excellence in Leadership Award 2025, and is one of the youngest ever to receive the Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to youth mental health.