Music is one of Tara's biggest joys and she loves singing and dancing, especially in the car or at concerts with her friends.
Creative time is important to Tara as well. Tara is patient, focused and expressive with art and craft, especially colouring and painting by numbers. She also enjoys online activities including computer work, typing workshops and brain training activities which she does daily.
Her community is a huge part of her life. Tara loves spending time with her parents and friends, especially those from Down Syndrome NSW, which is a group that champions for the rights of people living with Down syndrome. With this group, Tara attends events and concerts in Sydney and gets to share experiences that make her feel connected.
Tara values belonging. She loves sharing healthy dinners and watching TV together with her family. Evenings are for unwinding with Netflix or Stan, although her mum has drawn the line at MAFS!
On Monday evenings Tara proudly volunteers at the NSW SES Wollongong Unit, specialising in community engagement and social media. Tara wants to support people living with disability to join the NSW SES and help them by making adjustments to training. She hopes to learn even more at the NSW SES and get involved in everything she can. The NSW SES Wollongong Unit is her community, and she's proud to contribute.
Tara is honest about challenges too. Loneliness can be tough, and she relies on her parents and support worker when she needs advice. She is proud of her ability to listen and understand, something she believes people often overlook when talking about individuals with Down syndrome. She wants others to understand that people with Down syndrome have real needs and feelings and with some simple adjustments she can participate fully.
Tara's goal is clear:
"It's my life, so I want to make the decisions."
Tara continues working toward more independence, more confidence and more opportunities to grow.
This World Down Syndrome Day, Tara will be celebrating with friends and their families over lunch, honouring people living with Down syndrome and the strength of their community.
World Down Syndrome Day is held on 21 March 2026 and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome around the world.
Are you interested in becoming an NSW SES volunteer? The NSW SES has a variety of ways you can volunteer, designed to provide every community member opportunities to engage in meaningful volunteering, no matter what their personal circumstance may be. You can apply here .
