Young creatives wow judges

The creative minds behind a business that aims to provide a safe and welcoming space for Neurodivergent people to express themselves won the UniSC Award for Youth Innovation Excellence at the 2022 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards.

Finley Berry and Lauren Adair’s business, Shnoompy Boy Designs, seeks to provide a space for Neurodivergent people to express themselves by showcasing their art, music and other artistic endeavours while earning an income through long-term meaningful employment opportunities.

The award for Youth Innovation Excellence recognises an individual or group aged 18 years and younger who studies in the Moreton Bay Region and is demonstrating excellence in a product, process, business model or marketing innovation, developed within the past 24 months, that challenges conventional thinking and demonstrates competitiveness.

Bray Park State High School graduate Finley says he wants to use the award as a way to set stronger goals and push himself harder.

Lauren says she’s only new to the Shnoompy Boy team, but is inspired by founder Finley.

“He’s amazing. Finley struggled to find work - he has autism so it makes it a lot more difficult to find a job where they accept him,” Lauren explains.

“Finley has an amazing talent for art, so he decided ‘why not create my own business?’ with his nickname he has had since he was a childShnoompy Boy.

Lauren says she and Finley hope to open a store where other

Neurodivergent people can gather, be creative, find a place where they feel like they belong and work at the same time.

Bray Park State High School principal Peter Turner says he's incredibly proud of what Finley and Lauren have achieved.

“The students have done a fantastic job representing Bray Park State High School, and the whole school is behind them, all 1400 students.”

There were 68 finalists in last year’s awards and the winners were decided by a panel of 44 judges from a mix of public and private sector organisations.