Y Australia has today released its 2024-25 Community Impact Report, spotlighting remarkable achievements across our four national pillars of impact: Community Wellbeing, a Just World, a Sustainable Planet and Meaningful Work. The report features inspiring stories that demonstrate the Movement’s commitment to improving lives, uplifting communities and amplifying youth voice.
Creating a Just World
At the Y Community School in Whittlesea, students who had disengaged from mainstream schooling found renewed purpose. One student described their journey by saying, “Before I came to this school, I was just being. Now I feel like I am living.” The school’s first year saw students complete successful work placements, establish a student led LGBTIQA+ Rainbow Club and rebuild confidence and connection.
In South Australia, the Y partnered with the Kurlana Tapa Youth Training Centre to deliver a 10-week swimming and water safety program for young people in youth justice. Many participants learned to swim for the first time. All achieved water safety competency and youth workers reported increased engagement and fewer behavioural incidents.
At Y Victoria, kids with disabilities have been able to have fun in skate parks for the first time, with the innovative new equipment invested in by Y Victoria. The new program reflects the Y’s commitment to inclusion, innovation, and community wellbeing with expansion plans underway.
In New South Wales, young people and representatives from our communities across Australia, proudly marched in Mardi Gras and initiated creative designs for apparel with Y Gear under the theme Free to Be, representing visibility, inclusion and pride.
Community Wellbeing in Action
From early learning to recreation to mental health programs, the Y continues to invest deeply in wellbeing for all communities and ages.
Y Ballarat provided children and their families in regional Victoria thirty hours of fully funded Pre Prep, with recipients being some of the first in Victoria to do so. Families experienced reduced costs and staff benefited from additional employment flexibility while children gained stronger social skills, deeper connections with peers and more consistent learning experiences with additional days spent in centres.
In New South Wales, the Alternative Suspension program supported a young person named Caleb* who had experienced family violence, homelessness and disrupted education. With targeted support, he reengaged with school, accessed work opportunities and began planning for a scaffolding apprenticeship.
In the Y Canberra Region, an intergenerational early learning program continued to flourish, connecting preschoolers with aged care residents. Children developed empathy and social skills while older residents experienced reduced isolation and renewed purpose.
In Queensland, twenty-four-year-old Jackson’s participation in the YMCA Cancer Survivor Program helped him rebuild strength, confidence and optimism following treatment for a rare brain cancer. His family described the program as a “catalyst to normality”.
A Sustainable Planet Through Practical Innovation
Across Australia, Ys continue to lead grassroots sustainability initiatives.
In the Northern Territory, a simple idea to sell pre-loved items grew into a quarterly indoor market in Alice Springs that now attracts hundreds of community members. The market encourages second hand shopping and reduces reliance on fast fashion, and was led by Elena, Recreation and Aquatics General Manager of the Y Kilgariff.
Down in Victoria, in the regional city of Geelong, a new food composter at Camp Wyuna, run by Y Geelong was introduced and now processes more than one hundred kilograms of food scraps each week. The initiative cuts landfill waste and helps educate young people about circular sustainability.
Meaningful Work for Young People
The Y continues to elevate youth employment standards and create opportunities for meaningful work.
In Western Australia, the School ReadY Program supported children aged three to five with early literacy and language development. A partnership with Edith Cowan University placed speech pathology students in early learning centres to provide early intervention and build educator capability.
In Hobart, the Y removed sliding scale pay rates for 16- to 19-year-olds under the Fitness Industry Award, ensuring young staff are paid fairly and valued for their contribution.
Y Careers also partnered with Y Queensland to offer twenty traineeships in Outside School Hours Care. Participants earned while they learned, completed Certificate III qualifications and received personalised coaching to build long term career pathways.
The Y is a strong and vibrant Movement creating lasting national impact and is proud to release our stories of impact for the 2024-25 year.
Y Australia CEO Alexandra Ash and President Amelia Shaw praised the achievements across the Movement, noting the collective work that drives our progress to Vision 2030. Y Australia would like to thank its staff, volunteers, leadership teams, partners, governments and philanthropic support for another incredible year of impacting the lives of children, young people and communities.
The full 2024-25 Community Impact Report is available at www.cir.the-y.org.au.
Quote Attributable to Y Australia President, Amelia Shaw
“The Y’s impact on the lives of children and young people is profound. Whether it’s in Youth Parliament, early learning or recreation – our impact reflects our collective commitment to building communities that are safe, inclusive and full of opportunity for all Australians.”
Quote Attributable to Y Australia CEO, Alexandra Ash
“Every story in this report reminds us why our work matters – to create a better world, with and for young people. The very real impact the Y is having in people’s lives is driven by thousands of passionate staff and volunteers who show up every day with heart and purpose, and their work shines in this report.”