YMCA Discovery Visit Australia

Time with Victoria Y - from the first day staff and volunteers at YMCA made every meeting and site visit, exciting and informative, I am taking so many ideas home with me to improve and make positive change. I am absolutely blown away by the sheer size of Y Vic with 116 sites and 6000 staff and impressively 50% being under 30 years old.

The evident passion to keep young people active and healthy through the wellness programmes is inspirational and close to my heart, especially interested in the recreation and leisure programmes offered by the Y, who keep thousands of children and young people active and engaged in numerous activities.

Kings swim and YMCA swimming lessons Is such an inspirational swim and water safe initiative, 55,000 participants access swimming lessons each week , wow . We learned 372,000 people in the world die every year through drowning with 95% being in Asia. Drowning is a preventive death and  Y Vic have really taken on the role of making access to swimming  lessons available in areas of Asia, determined to save lives. 

The time spent with the youth development team informed us of the many programmes delivered to young people and I was particularly interested to hear how they had Set up a building maintenance social enterprise, giving training and employment opportunities to young people leaving prison. A very successful enterprise with fantastic results in participants not re offending.

The time spent with Y Vic finished with us attending the annual general meetings and annual staff awards. A glamorous and enjoyable evening learning of the dedication and passion of the staff going that extra mile for what they believed believe in, helping others to succeed and be the best they can.

Saying goodbye to Victoria we moved on to YMCA Brisbane, the sun was out and we embarked on the second phase of the visit. lan Bray CEO and his team explained their approach to sustaining their operations to be unbreakable. We are Staying at the the George Williams hotel which is just one of the initiatives to income generate. I have to say the standards and professionalism at the hotel are very high and deserve a good trip advisor entry.

I applaud the "Head for business and heart of charity " as a strong approach to the new generation of the non for profit sector. To survive we have to change .

Today has been an unbelievable experience of learning , firstly at a YMCA school in North Lakes, accommodating 65 students needing an alternative to state education. Andrew and Stephanie at the school demonstrated the difference being made to young people who have experienced dramatic trauma in their lives who needed the additional support as well as education. Truly inspirational.

The afternoon took us to something unexpected and magical, Old Peitre Town , I can only describe as a Oz museum and fantastic venue for functions and weddings.

We were embraced by Terry, who explained the indigenous peoples  ways and got us involved tribal dance, music and art. To top it off a lesson in flying a boomerang. Some members of the team threw a good boomerang which actually returned, not me.

Posted on behalf of Anthea Clements - Barry YMCA