0400 774 102 paul @ landscapelogicnsw. com. au www. landscapelogicnsw. com. au
Tara Gleig
young people in the Hills.“ About seven years ago, Ethan and I had been working together in my previous role, and we saw that the data around unhealthy relationships was increasing in young people. We knew something had to change.”
After training as a Love Bites facilitator, Tara and Ethan began delivering the program in local high schools. What started as a small initiative has grown into a major community effort. To make the program feasible she needs to have extra facilitators to help, which can be up to an extra 20 people, which makes running the program a challenge at times.
“ We run Love Bites as a one day program across eight to nine local high schools in a year now,” Tara says.
“ It’ s all about giving young people the knowledge and tools to recognise, reflect, and respond to situations that are unhealthy and to build confidence and self-esteem along the way.”
Thanks to Ethan and Tara’ s efforts, that program has gone from strength to strength. Their biggest supporter has been Castle Hill RSL, who have provided over $ 68,000 in funding to train facilitators and keep the program running.
For Tara, Love Bites isn’ t about equipping young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships. It’ s also about encouraging and developing their skills in critical thinking and assist them in being able to problem solve and communicate effectively. It’ s about changing the narrative about how the young people
view relationships and the healthy choices they can make.
“ When we teach young people about what healthy relationships look like, this empowers them to make the right choices for themselves and to know that respect matters, we’ re giving them power. We’ re helping them build confidence and teaching them to see their own value.” Tara’ s commitment to building healthy relationships doesn’ t stop at Love Bites. She’ s also deeply involved in the Hills Domestic Violence Prevention Network, where she has served since 2015 and
has sat in the role of secretary for the last three years.
The network brings together community organisations, advocates, and support services to promote awareness and early intervention around domestic and family violence.
The Network is holding 16 Days of Activism throughout November. One of the community events will be a display of roses, each one honouring a life which has been lost to domestic and family violence this year.
“ Each rose has a name, age, and the state the victim lived. It’ s about remembrance and awareness and reminding the community why this work is so important.”
Her efforts haven’ t gone unnoticed.
Tara received the Highly Commended award at this year’ s Hills Shire Australia Day Awards( Tara is second from the right).
Tara was highly commended for her contributions at this year’ s Hills Australia Day Awards, particularly for her coordination of the Love Bites program, and her work across the Hills in promoting respectful relationships and domestic violence prevention.
Tara is also a licensed instructor with Mental Health First Aid Australia, training teachers, wellbeing staff, and adults in Youth Mental Health First Aid. This type of training helps people to see the signs that people are struggling and have the confidence to start the hard conversations with young people about what’ s happening in their lives.
She’ s passionate about bringing this training not only into schools but also into sports clubs and community groups to reach young people wherever they hang out.
Reflecting on her journey from Castle Hill High vice-captain to her position as community leader, Tara is humble.
“ I was born in the Hills and grew up here, I love our community and love serving it.”
After talking to Tara for even the short time I did I can see she isn’ t a person who just talks the talk, she absolutely believes in the mission that she has set for herself. And through the work she does in schools, community programs, and advocacy networks across the Hills, she brings hope to anyone who is lucky enough to meet her.
Lic: 347025C
Paul McDarmont
0400 774 102 paul @ landscapelogicnsw. com. au www. landscapelogicnsw. com. au
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 125 // NOVEMBER 2025 7