Ira is committed to making a positive contribution to society both through his professional career and through his extensive volunteer work with various community organizations. Having a particular affinity for LGBTQI+ issues, he is extremely passionate about mental health in youth. Ira graduated from CDU with a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management in 2017. He is currently enrolled in a Diploma of Counselling and is in his last semester of a Diploma of Management.
Ira began volunteering at Headspace in 2016 before securing the full-time role of Community Engagement and Youth Participation Worker in February 2017. As a Team Leader in Community Engagement, he is developing interactive programs and presentations for different age groups to provide mental and physical health education to young people. He provides strong leadership and mentoring to members of his team and the young people participating in Headspace programs. As a professional, he is highly regarded, actively engaging with a wide range of organisations, and seeking out ways to increase collaboration and awareness of youth mental health.
Ira’s accomplishments and community contributions include:
- Winner of the People's Choice Award in the NT Young Achiever Awards in 2016 and finalist for Excellence in Youth Leadership
- Mental Health Worker of the Year at the 2017 NT Mental Health Week Awards
- Nominee for the 2020 Award for Local Men’s Health Local Hero at the Australian Men’s Health Forum
In addition to his professional work in the community's youth, Ira has volunteered in the Ship for World Youth’s port of call to Darwin in 2019 and as a Peer Educator and Local Leader for Darwin/NT YEAH (Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS). He is an active member of the Palmerston and Rural Youth Services Network and an Assistant Group Facilitator at the 2017 National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values and held a position on the board of the NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council from 2016-2017. His work is centered around the betterment of the community’s youth mental health and wellbeing.
Ira’s goals remain in place to make a difference in the world. He volunteers his time on top of making it his vocation to the betterment of the youth community. Especially in a time when youth LGBTQI+ issues are opening new opportunities for community acceptance and understanding