Y Australia and Y Whittlesea are delighted to welcome the awarding of $2.913 million from the Victorian Government’s Building Fund for Non-Government Schools – Independent stream (Round 3) to expand and upgrade its facilities at Y Community School in Epping.
This funding will enable Y Whittlesea to deliver a Year 7-9 campus to complement its current Year 10-12 Y Community School’s Secondary Campus by refurbishing, fitting-out and expanding the spaces within the Y Leisure City facility.
These improvements will provide modern, purpose-designed learning environments for students aged 12-15 years to benefit from the specialised programs at the Y Community School.
With this funding we will be able to enhance the overall student experience, improve outcomes and better prepare young people to engage with life beyond school in meaningful ways.
Y Community School, our aim is to provide alternative secondary education pathways, tailored support and a learning environment where young people feel valued, seen and empowered to succeed.
Having just recently celebrated twelve months of operations at our Year 10-12 senior campus, The Y Community School is growing into a place where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow. As one student reflected: “Before I came to this school, I was just being. Now I feel like I am living.”
Staff and students focus on building shared purpose, goals and learning experiences that put the young person’s individuality at the centre of their passions.
Recently in our Senior Secondary campus, nine students have successfully completed work experience placements, with one student undertaking a placement with a computer reseller company. This experience was so successful that the company later welcomed the student back for a Structured Workplace Learning placement connected to their VCE VET studies.
By supporting each student as a whole person, our school is strengthening the lives of students, families and the broader community.
The Y looks forward to working with the Victorian Government, our staff, students and community partners to bring this project to life, with construction scheduled to begin in the planning phase in late 2025 and completion expected by early 2027.
Quote Attributable to Y Australia CEO, Alexandra Ash
“This grant marks a major milestone for our organisation. With the support of the Victorian Government, we can ensure Y Community School students – many of whom face complex challenges and have neurodiverse learning needs – have access to state-of-the-art facilities where they can succeed.”
Quote Attributable to Y Whittlesea CEO, Michele Rowse
“We are very excited about what this means for our students, staff and the broader community. These new learning spaces, dedicated to students aged 12-15 years old will make a real difference in how we deliver our programs and how young people connect, engage and succeed now and into the future.”
ENDS
About The Y: The Y (formerly known as YMCA) is a federated ‘profit for purpose’ organisation that supports children, young people and communities across Australia and the world.