2016
S T R AT E G Y
202 1
Rethink the world. Unleash the future.
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INTRODUCTION
From
our CEO
There has never been a more important
time to invest in our young people.
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INTRODUCTION
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The world is changing at an unprecedented
pace. Australia’s population is rapidly growing
and ageing, our economy is restructuring,
technology is transforming work, inequality is
increasing, and our eco-systems are stretched.
The institutions we have in place for dealing with
these issues need reform.
These are the challenges future generations of
young people will inherit.
To face the future young people will need to
make Australia technologically savvy, innovative,
competitive, and environmentally sustainable. They
will need to link it to new markets, new people and
new opportunities in Asia, Europe, the Americas
and elsewhere. They will need to understand
national and global trends and know how to
respond to and take advantage of them.
They will also need to build a strong social and
civic culture that strengthens our quality of life
and ensures our resources are distributed to
create equitable, generous, lively, diverse
creative communities.
Young people are Australia’s greatest resource.
Their growing numbers (an increase of 50% in the
next 50 years) are good for our workforce. They
are diverse and globally well connected by culture
and language. They generate and share ideas and
issues, are optimistic, community-minded and
caring toward others.
INTRODUCTION
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But are we investing in them enough to transform
the economy and create new systems and
institutions to lead us into a better future? The
research tells us no. This is the first generation in
Australia’s history that will be worse off than their
parents in terms of work, housing and debt. More
than a third are unemployed or under-employed
and many are leaving education without the skills
they will need for a complex future. We can not
afford to let this waste of potential continue.
This is our mission at FYA. We want to ensure
Australia is investing in all young people, from a
diversity of backgrounds, utilising their time, talent
and ideas in the creation of new and better ways
of doing things. There is ample evidence this will
benefit both our young people as individuals and
the nation as a whole.
We cannot do it alone. We are building
collaborations with those across government,
industry, education and communities who also
want to harness the energy and enthusiasm of our
young people to create a better future. Together
we will build young people’s skills, create an
ecosystem of support for young changemakers,
highlight and combat their biggest issues, train
those working with young people to engage them
in social solutions, and ultimately, transform the
systems that are so important for our economic
wellbeing and (e)quality of life.
Young people are Australia’s
greatest resource
The
challenge
We need the next generation of young
Australians to be more enterprising,
innovative and entrepreneurial to drive
our nation’s future.
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OUR VISION
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Young people will inherit significant challenges which they
are not being prepared to address
Technology, global competition, and changing demography are reshaping our economy and work,
while the income governments use to fund our quality of life and standard of living is decreasing.
For young people work will be very different in terms of what they will do, where they will work, and how
they will work. 40% of jobs are at high risk of automation, the workforce is becoming increasingly global, and
the nature of work will be more flexible, with young people managing a portfolio of work activities.
Around a third of young people do not have the enterprise skills needed for this future of work, such as:
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Creativity & innovation
Project management
Financial literacy
Digital literacy
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Working with others
Confidence and communication
Enthusiasm for ongoing learning
Ability to critically assess information
We are also facing significant global challenges.
This change is happening against a backdrop of increasingly complex global issues like rising inequality,
climate change, sustainability of resources and a rapidly shifting economy.
The old systems we relied on to address these need reform or
replacement –– Young people will need to be innovative and
entrepreneurial to tackle these challenges
We are not investing enough in our young people.
For the first time, this generation will be worse off than their parents. They are older when they find full time
work, even after study. It now takes on average 4.7 years from education to a full time job. Over a third are
unemployed or under- employed, they are more in debt at a younger age and older when they become
independent from their parents. Participation traditional political systems is also declining.
Investing now will prepare young people to drive our economy
and lead social change to create a better future
The
solution
We believe young people are not a problem
to be helped or solved. They are ambitious,
creative and capable of rethinking the world
and solving tomorrow’s problems today.
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OUR VISION
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THE SOLUTION
We work with partners across industry, government, education
and the community sector to:
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Co-design initiatives that support young people to build enterprising skills, networks and purpose,
equipping them for the future
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Turbocharge Australia’s largest community of young people representing the diversity of
young Australians, including a key focus on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people, CALD
communities, those in remote and regional Australia and young people who are same sex-attracted,
intersex and gender-diverse.
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Deliver research and advocate for policy reform on the issues impacting on young people
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Build a social solutions incubator and global educator that curates world class training for
those who work with young people
THE IMPACTS
We will ensure:
Australia’s young people are
equipped with the enterprise
and leadership skills they need
for the future of work and to
contribute and lead change
Young changemakers have,
and continue to find, new
and better approaches for
addressing our biggest social
and economic challenges
We have transformed
Australia’s approach to
working with young people,
so they are shaping the
institutions, policy and
practices of the future
Our vision
Australia is investing in all young people,
utilising their time, talent and ideas in the
creation of new and better ways of doing
things to ensure a strong economy and
(e)quality of life.
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OUR VISION
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OUR MISSION
Creating change with generations
of young Australians
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Young people are
at the centre of
our work.
We seek social change by
enabling young people to
find new and better ways
of doing things.
We are a place for all
young Australians, no
matter who they are, no
matter where they live.
We put their interests and
investment in their future at
the heart of everything we do.
Our work is underpinned by
the belief we need to prepare
young people to do business,
government, education,
community services and
leadership differently.
We supports the diversity of
young people. We strive to
remove barriers to ensure all
young people can contribute
and lead change.
We work in collaboration
with others.
Our work is based on
evidence and research.
We collaborate with others
to increase the power of our
actions and connect young
people to the strengths and
experience of our partners.
Our work is informed by
strong evidence, research and
evaluation. This allows FYA to
effectively back young people
and to inform the national
agenda on the issues that
most affect them.
We are dedicated
to backing the next
generation of young
people who are going
to rethink the
world and unleash
the future.
Our goals
WE CREATE
opportunities for young
people to learn the skills
needed to succeed in a
changing world
WE TRANSFORM
the way the government, Industry
and community sectors engage
young people to rethink the
systems that shape the world
WE BACK
young people who are making
a difference in communities,
industry and public life
OUR GOALS
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GOAL 1
Create opportunities for
young people to learn the
skills needed to succeed in
a changing world
We engage with young Australians of diverse backgrounds aged
12 and 29 through initiatives in the places they study, work, live
and explore. We challenge young people to aspire to great things
and to give social action or enterprise a go.
H O W W E W I L L DO I T
We deliver best practice initiatives that develop enterprising skills in young people, ignite their
passions, and demonstrate the potential for change and reform in the systems they inhabit.
OUR WORK
$20 Boss
$20 Boss is the ultimate in-school start-up challenge. Developed to spark creativity,
innovative thinking and entrepreneurship, this program gives every student a chance
to build a small business from the ground up, tapping into their incredible potential.
IMPACT
IMPACT helps young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to finish school,
and empowers a community of young indigenous leaders. In the IMPACT program,
young people attend workshops, camp out, inspire and support each other over
three years to lead change.
Worlds of Work
WOW is a careers learning program that teachers run in year 7-10 classrooms.
It connects students with the world of work through activities that enable meaningful
careers exploration, relevant to the changing future of work.
W H AT S U CC E S S W I L L L OO K L I K E
Australia’s young people are equipped with the enterprise and leadership skills they need for the future
of work and to contribute and lead change
GOAL 2
Back young people who are
making a difference in
communities, industry and
public life
FYA brings together the largest community of young changemakers
in the country: the innovators, makers, dreamers, thinkers, doers
and creators. We support their projects and ventures to thrive
– whether they are small scale community volunteer projects or
large social enterprises. We help them develop their ideas, build
business management and leadership skills, utilise technology, and
create networks with other young people including networks of:
young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leaders, associations
connecting with Asia and social entrepreneurs.
H O W W E W I L L DO I T
We host a suite of activities, facilitate collaborations, and build a community of practice to
help changemakers maximise the impact of their project or social venture.
OUR WORK
Innovation Nation
We inspire, connect and back young people to make a difference in their
communities. We support them with micro-funding and mentoring to bring their ideas
to life and make a difference in their local community.
Young Social Pioneers
Young Social Pioneers is an intensive six month program that backs young social
entrepreneurs to lead sustainable and impactful social ventures. To date we have helped
incubate, nurture and scale more than 136 young social entrepreneurs nationally.
A network of Practice
We connect young changemakers with one another, collaborators and partners to facilitate
the exchange of ideas, opportunities and resources. They come together nationally once a
year at our Unleashed festival and awards.
W H AT S U CC E S S W I L L L OO K L I K E
Young changemakers have, and continue to find, new and better approaches for addressing our biggest
social and economic challenges
OUR GOALS
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OUR GOALS
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Australia needs a vastly different
approach to working with young
people than we have today to
prepare them for the challenges
they will inherit
GOAL 3
Transform the way that
government, industry and
community sectors engage
young people, to rethink
the systems that shape
the world
We amplify our work through systems change in both the settings
that impact on young people, and, by fostering their involvement
in solution-finding across communities, government and industry.
We want young people at the centre of the national discussion of
Australia’s long term challenges because we believe they are the
country’s greatest resource to solve those challenges.
HOW WE WILL DO IT
We run campaigns on the key issues that affect young people. We also connect sector
professionals and policy and decision makers to young people through our social solutions
incubator and global educator: YLab.
OUR WORK
Research and reform
Our research and policy agenda is focused on ensuring the social and economic
conditions impacting upon our young people are understood and that evidence
based policy solutions are developed with young people at the centre.
Safe Schools Coalition Australia
Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a national coalition dedicated to creating safer
and more inclusive school environments for same sex attracted, intersex and
gender diverse students, school staff and families. All students need to feel safe and
included at school – only then can they be engaged and do well.
YLab
YLab is a social solutions incubator and global educator that will curate a world class
learning experience for professionals that work with young people. Professionals will
learn a process for meaningfully engaging young people to address critical public
policy or business challenges in real world contexts.
WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE
We have transformed Australia’s approach to working with young people, so they are shaping the
institutions, policy and practices of the future
OUR GOALS
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INTRODUCING
“1.8 billion young people are an untapped source of innovation,
ideas and energy across our complex and uncertain world. YLab
will tap this resource in a practical, powerful and vivid
way – enabling young people to create the future”
YLab
— Jan Owen CEO
YLab will transform how young people are engaged to rethink the systems that shape the world by
building a new generation of professionals working with young people to reimagine youth futures.
YLab is a social solutions incubator and
global educator that will curate a world class
learning experience for professionals that
work with young people.
THE PROBLEM
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THE SOLUTION
Young people will inherit responsibility for
addressing complex economic, social and
environmental problems. Our economic, social and
political systems do not currently include them. The
sector that supports young people do not have the
knowledge, skills and tools to prepare them for the
future. There is a lack of high quality, relevant and
accredited training to meet this need.
Enrolling in YLab, professionals will learn a process
for meaningfully engaging young people to address
critical public policy or business challenges.
Training will be immersive, collaborative,
deliberative and will utilise content from global
thought leaders in areas such as co-design, digital,
facilitation, social action, social entrepreneurship
and cultural intelligence.
Professionals will learn real world skills for solving
problems in real world contexts. Organisations
can also get support to use the YLab methods
to garner youth perspectives and insights on
challenges such as regional development, disaster
management and employee engagement.
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Cultural
Intelligence
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Social action
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Coaching and
facilitation
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Co-design
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Digital
Engagement
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Social
entrepeneurship
FOUNDATION FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS
WWW.FYA.ORG.AU
[email protected]