Who We Are

Ohana was built from a genuine passion for people, community, and creating support that feels personal, flexible, and meaningful. The word Ohana means family, and that is exactly what we strive to create: a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where children feel seen, valued, and understood.

Founded by Jemma Walters, Ohana was created after recognising a growing need for support that extends beyond traditional models of care. Jemma saw firsthand how many families, particularly those in rural and regional communities, are navigating busy lives without the “village” that once existed. Some families have relocated away from their support networks, some are balancing demanding work and family commitments, and others have found that traditional before and after-school care does not meet their child’s individual needs.

Ohana exists to help bridge this gap by offering community-centred support that is adaptable, relational, and focused on the wellbeing of the whole young person- not just ticking boxes.

Jemma’s background, which includes leaving law school to work in community services, has strongly shaped Ohana’s values and approach. Her experience spans in rural suicide prevention and mental health, youth facilitation with the AFL, leadership in Out of Home Care, and disability support work. Alongside this, Jemma brings the knowledge and insight gained through her tertiary studies in Social Work into Ohana in a genuine and authentic way.

Jemma has always had a passion for community and for leading in a way that lifts those around her. Jemma has coached junior football, served on the board of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture, volunteered for Be Hers, coached junior netball, attended Marcus Oldham’s Rural Leadership Program and, most recently, was a delegate at the National Leadership Forum at Parliament House in Canberra. Jemma’s drive and integrity within the industries she works in have been widely recognised with awards such as the Northern Young Professional Network’s runner - up Young Service Talent of the Year, and Winner of the Young Leader of the Year in 2025, and she started 2026 with recognition in both the Community and Disability space as a semi- finalist in the Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards.

As someone who is neurodivergent herself and went undiagnosed for many years due to presenting as “high-functioning”, Jemma deeply understands some of the often invisible challenges neurodivergent young people face in a world that is largely designed for neurotypical individuals.

At its core, Ohana is about creating a stronger sense of community. We believe support work and in-home care should feel human, empowering, and relationship-based, not clinical or one-size-fits-all.

Because at Ohana, nobody is left behind.