Commitment Statements

Community wellbeing

The Y is committed to providing high-quality, relevant, and sustainable health and wellbeing solutions to young people and communities. 

Young People

The Y works to create a better world, with and for young people. We are committed to creating safe spaces of belonging where young people feel safe to have a voice and to raise their issues of concern, in an enabling environment. We want all young people to feel valued with non-judgmental and respectful engagement, and we commit to recognising the diversity of young people’s perspectives and to ensure inclusion.

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Y Australia is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable people as a priority. We have extensive Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures which help us to continually embed a safe culture.

“Y Australia is dedicated to empowering children and young people to feel safe and be safe at the Y, in their homes and in their communities. Our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, serves as our commitment to achieving this goal and provides insight into how we can and will do this. We encourage you to reach out to safe@the-y.org.au if you would like to learn more,” Ben Hubbard, National President.

Y Australia is committed to culturally embedding in our service practices and governance approaches of the Executive teams and Board of Directors. The Board strongly believe that by providing safe places for young people to engage is a key contributor to their achieving their learning and growth potential.

As part of this implementation, the Y Australia has appointed existing Board Member Jenny McCombe as the Safeguarding Representative.

Y Australia employees comply with all the appropriate safeguarding children training and understand their responsibilities to act in the best interest of children and young people.

Sustainable Planet

The Y is committed to acting to decrease our carbon footprint, support sustainability solutions, and contribute to regenerating the earth.

The Y in Australia is committed to being a leader in environmental responsibility, acting in a sustainable way, and minimising our environmental impact. We recognise the critical importance of caring for the environment for the future of humanity. We are committed to protect, sustain and restore our natural environment.

Our environmental goals are a strategic pillar of impact area, and our Member Y Associations are committed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable use of water, sustainable use of land, innovative waste reduction, education, community leadership and advocacy.

Just World

The Y is committed to defying discrimination, inequity, injustice, and systemic racism; and amplifying young people as agents of change for an equal and safe world.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

The Y recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this continent and the islands of the Torres Strait. In doing so, we acknowledge our shared history; recognise the right to self-determination and the importance of connection to and access to country. We acknowledge and respect distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural differences, beliefs, values and languages.
See the Y’s support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart here.

Reconciliation Action Plan & The Voice

We are in the process of developing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP will detail how we intend to contribute to closing the gap in living standards between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal Australians.

Disability

Ys across Australia run 14 disability-specific camps, holiday programs and centre-based programs, including leadership and advocacy groups, after school programs and basketball competitions for players with additional needs. Our community programs include social groups, recreation days, adventure days, home and community support. And finally, recreation support for people with disabilities includes access all abilities aerobics, access 1:1 swimming program, access gymnastics, Y-Rehab program, hydrotherapy, pilates reformer and gym and group fitness.

Diversity & Inclusion

​The Y values the individual worth, uniqueness and inclusion of all people. We seek to remove barriers to participation in programs and activities that will enable all people to meet their full potential, and experience meaningful involvement in the Movement according to our mission statement and values. Our social inclusion commitment will be achieved through our Member Associations. We strive to remove any barriers to full participation in community life, for people living in a community served by the Y to enjoy connection and belonging, despite race, religion, sexual-orientation, age or ability.

Meaningful work

As our purpose-driven people are one of our greatest strengths, The Y is committed to creating and advocating for meaningful, just, and fair education, training and employment opportunities and working conditions for this, and future generations for our staff and volunteers.

Y Volunteers

The Y recognises the work of our volunteers both locally and nationally. We value short-term project based volunteering as much as long-term volunteer commitment. We are committed to embracing the Volunteering Australia “National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not for Profit Organisations,” including the “Principles of Volunteering”. We seek to remove barriers to volunteering by adopting best practice in volunteering policies, procedures, systems and inclusive practices, and we actively encourage Associations to share with, and benefit from, others showing leadership in volunteering.

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