Our mission is to empower children, young people and communities Australia-wide to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive world where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit.
At the Y Canberra Region, we believe in building a better world, with and for young people. We work closely with the communities that we serve, ensuring that our services resonate with what they need. We are here for young people, providing a space for them to be heard and valued.
The Y Canberra Region has grown with Canberra, with a history that has seen us evolve side-by-side since 1941. Since then, we have programs and services across the entire region and in NSW. We have five Early Learning Centres, providing children with the best start to life. Our team runs Outside Hours School Care, with locations in schools across Canberra, Queanbeyan, and even out to Bungendore and Sutton, with some of these also offering vacation care programs during school holidays.
We specialise in student accommodation, with two properties providing a safe and unique base for students and groups of all ages. Our Y Canberra Region also offers unique and community-based programs for health and wellbeing. With a paddle hub and sailing club that was established in 1963, and RAID basketball programs that bring staff, volunteers and communities together.
Our Youth Representative Group is embedded into our constitution, ensuring that youth voice is genuinely heard and acted on, and we have recently launched our Youth Parliament program! Come and find your ‘why’ at the Y!
As part of the world’s oldest and largest not-for-profit organisations in the world, the Y is passionate about providing space for young people to grow, learn, move and thrive.
3,450
program participants for 2024
27+
locations and services across the Canberra region
Applications now open
ACT Youth Parliament
Youth Parliament will be an opportunity to learn about the role of our ACT Legislative Assembly and our place in civics and democracy. Youth Parliament is an opportunity for personal development, building and gaining skills in public speaking, debating, confidence, community consultation and advocacy.
Safeguarding children and young people
At The Y Canberra Region safeguarding is embedded in our organisational culture. We are dedicated to providing safe, inclusive environments where children and young people are respected, protected and heard. Our commitment is demonstrated through the implementation of well-defined Safeguarding Children and Young People policies and procedures, ongoing staff training to identify and mitigate risks and a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse or neglect. We actively partner with families and children to ensure they feel empowered to raise concerns with confidence, and we fulfil all legal obligations to report and respond to any matters related to safety or welfare.