Who we are - our people
Our staff and volunteers live and breathe our mission: we believe in the power of inspired young people.
We've been working with young people in Victoria for over a century. We know what it takes to help all young people reach their potential in life.
The YMCA Youth Services team know this better than anyone. They're working on the front line, helping young people everyday. The team's main experience is in youth work, training and education, as well as in other areas of the not-for-profit sector.
What we do - our programs
Ultimately, Youth Services programs aim to empower more young people to amplify their voices, contribute to better community outcomes, and be a positive force for change in the world.
We help young people to build up their skills, develop their support networks, find a job, and connect with their community. Youth Services works in the following program areas:
- Staff and volunteer programs (Future Leaders and UNO-Y)
- Learning and leadership (Evolve, Youth Parliament and Press Gallery)
- Social impact (Bridge Project and ReBuild)
- Y Spaces (Bendigo, Southern Peninsula and Latrobe)
We couldn't run these vital programs without our people. People like Jessie.
Jessie's story
Here at the Y, we really believe in our staff and young people. That's why we run an initiative called the Young CEO Movement.
In April 2019, 15 young people from across Australia were chosen to be a Young CEO and take over leadership of a YMCA Association for a day.
Jessie, a young person who works within the YMCA Youth Services team, was chosen to be Young CEO of YMCA Victoria. In her role, she announced that she wanted the Y to take part in the LGBTQIA+ Pride March in February 2020. Jessie wanted to create a space where all young people could feel safe, included and celebrated.
So now, we're taking part.
I want to thank the Y for continuing to invest in young staff and volunteers, and empowering us to achieve what we set our minds to.Jessie, Young CEO YMCA Victoria