Our Vision

A World Free of Addiction

At Teen Challenge Tasmania, we believe that every life is precious, every story matters and no one is beyond hope.

Our vision is bold — a world free from addiction — and we pursue it by walking with young people and families through some of life’s hardest moments. Through early intervention, prevention, education, mentoring and pathways to rehabilitation, we empower individuals to discover freedom, purpose and the potential they were created for.

Tanya Cavanagh, Executive Director, Teen Challenge Tasmania and husband Peter Ferrall. 

Our Story

Founders of Teen Challenge Tasmania, Tanya Cavanagh and Peter Ferrall

We’re a faith-led organisation with deep roots in Tasmania.
As a husband-and-wife team, Peter Ferrall and Tanya Cavanagh were compelled to act after witnessing the rising tide of drug use affecting children as young as eight — often introduced by people they trusted. With no services meeting the unique needs of young people in this space, they stepped in.

What started as a calling has grown into a statewide movement helping young Tasmanians avoid addiction, reconnect with education, find safe community and build a meaningful life.

“We took up the fight for the future of our young people — for their brains, their potential, their purpose.”
— Tanya Cavanagh, Executive Director

Photo by borchee/iStock / Getty Images

What Drives Us

We are guided by our Christian faith, believing that transformation is possible — not just recovery, but full restoration.
We also believe prevention is more powerful than cure. That’s why our programs focus on early intervention, mentoring, education, neuroplasticity-based training, skills development and wraparound community support.

Our Projects

Our Early Intervention projects:

  • Connections Mentoring Projects (2013)

  • #NotEvenOnce® AOD Education & Resilience Building Projects (2015)

  • Solutions Program (2021)

  • Meaningful Art Youth Art Therapy Groups (2022)

  • Arrowsmith Program (2022)

  • Hope Costumes & Thrift Store (Social Enterprise) (2018)

  • Hope Cafe Tasmania (Social Enterprise) (2023)

Will you join us?
Whether through volunteering, partnering, donating or simply sharing our story — your support helps us reach one more young person with hope, belonging and a future worth fighting for. Together, we can break cycles, rebuild lives, and create a world free from addiction.

With gratitude,

Tanya Cavanagh                                                 

Executive Director,                                        

Teen Challenge Tasmania

 

Our Mission

“A Christ-centred ministry preventing addiction and transforming lives.”

Our Core Values

Faith – Believing God for the impossible
Integrity – Being honest, open and trustworthy
Servanthood – Dedicating ourselves to the success of others
Excellence – Giving our best for the glory of God
Compassion – Embracing hope, love and restoration

Our Goals

Freedom - Equip people to live free from addiction Success - Encourage positive, contributing lives Significance - Empower people to reach others and multiply hope

Our Programs Mission Statements

#NotEvenOnce® 

"Empowering future generations against substance abuse to protect their potential”

Connections Mentoring

“Encouraging life ready young people through positive role modelling relationships”

Hope Cafe tasmania and Hope Costumes & Thrift Store (Social Enterprises)

“Equipping work & life ready young people through relationship, training and support through social enterprise”

Brain School Tasmania (Arrowsmith)

“Overcoming learning disabilities by strengthening brains to positively engage with education and life”

Home of Hope (not operational)

“Transforming the lives of women and their children to break generational chains of addiction”