The Y Ballarat

We're excited to share our Community Impact Report for 2023-24, which was launched at our AGM last night. It showcases highlights as we have grown and evolved with our communities, and work towards our Vision 2030. ✨ The powerful stories illustrate the four ribbons of our strategic plan in action – Community Wellbeing, A Just World, Meaningful Work and a Sustainable Planet. From celebrating the voices of young people and passion of our people, to fostering strong partnerships and expanding services, the report illustrates our collective efforts making a meaningful difference. 🌏 We invite you to explore the successes and milestones which shaped our journey and our vision for the future. Be inspired here: https://lnkd.in/gSytbeDV #YBallarat #YKinders #CommunityImpact #Growth #CommunityWellbeing #JustWorld #MeaningfulWork #SustainablePlanet

Willaura & District Kindergarten, located about 25 minutes from Ararat, is one of the Y Kinders in the first stage of the Pre-Prep rollout. We’re excited to have ensured access to 30 hours of Pre-Prep for this small community in 2025. Read more in today’s story in The Sector - Early Education News https://lnkd.in/gjuv9eZ9 #PrePrep #YKinders #InspiredEarlyEducation #strongcommunities

On Early Childhood Educators’ Day we celebrate all our amazing educators who play such a crucial role in the formative years! Every day they bring passion, patience and creativity and make sure that every child feels seen, heard and valued. Early childhood educators are the ones who helped us learn how to learn. They were there at the beginning of our educational experiences. They showed us wondrous things that we didn’t know, sparked ideas, inspired us and lit up the room. 🤩 Every day we hear about the impact our teams make in the lives of children, families and communities. We are incredibly grateful for their immense dedication, care and talents. 🙌 A huge thank you to all our educators at our 92 Y Kinders and 5 ELCs who make such a difference in young learners’ lives, today and every day! Happy Early Childhood Educators' Day! #EarlyChildhoodEducatorsDay #Thankyou #Amazingteams #Dedication

This National Child Protection Week, the Y Ballarat is proud to stand behind the message that "Every child in every community needs a fair go". As an organisation, we believe every child and young person has the right to be safe, and we are committed to listening to their voices and empowering them to shape their own future. By creating spaces, places, and platforms where young people feel a true sense of belonging, we ensure their voices are heard, valued, and acted upon—making a positive impact in their lives and in the communities where they live, work, and play. Together, we can create environments where every child is protected and every conversation matters. You can join the discussion by tuning in to one or more of NAPCAN’s webinars being run throughout the week. These sessions are designed to inspire change, inform strategies, and amplify the voices of those leading the way in protecting children across all communities. 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gVR-QQrY #NAPCANWeek #ChildProtectionWeek #EveryConversationMatters 

⭐ Congratulations to our Jump Start Coordinator, Louise Rippon! ⭐ Louise took out the Influential Adult - Worker Award at the City of Ballarat Youth Awards! 🏆 Louise’s commitment to our automotive engagement program, Jump Start, is outstanding. Her support of over 200 young people to complete the program over the last two years, is a testament to her incredible ability. Louise was surprised by her win and said, “It's such an honor and I am so privileged to work in such an amazing program, which provides opportunities to make such a difference for young people. I am very passionate about Jump Start and super proud of what our team does for the community." Well done Louise! We're so proud to have you on our team! We also congratulate all nominees and award winners for their influence and achievements which help shape a brighter future for all. Read more: https://ow.ly/3y3W50T3JRT Ballarat City Council #JumpStart #BYSN #YoungPeople #Community #Youth #YBallarat #Impact

Happy International Youth Day! 🎉 We believe in the power of inspired young people to create positive change. At the Y Ballarat we're committed to empowering young people through support, connection, education, and opportunities to thrive. We support young people through our programs such as Jump Start, our automotive futures program, our Diversity and Inclusion projects and at our youth space – The Grove. These welcoming environments encourage connection and the discovery of new opportunities. Our Youth Action and Advisory Group provide a youth perspective and real input into the direction and activities of our organisation. Their proactive participation in our Bags of Joy campaign, Grow You Good Things and “Things No One Told You” programs and numerous other activities, deliver benefits for so many. We are in awe of the young people in our community, of their passion, and their vision for the future. We see empowered young people create real change, as they continue to explore new initiatives to improve the lives of others. Let's celebrate the incredible potential of young people around the world! 🌏 #InternationalYouthDay #YBallarat #Empowerment #Change

🌟 Celebrating Our OSHC Educators! On OSHC Educators’ Day we’d like to shine a light on our brilliant teams who create welcoming, fun and safe environments for over 1,000 children. Across our nine Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) venues, our dedicated Educators build strong relationships with children and families. They ensure that kids can be themselves, enjoy leisure-based activities, learn new skills and have fun. Their outstanding commitment to program planning, infusion of creativity and the selection of activities based on children’s interests, create experiences that engage and excite. 🚀 Over 800 families use our OSHC services throughout the year. This support helps them participate in employment, study, and other commitments, all while being assured that their children are doing so much more than just spending time in a safe space. A huge thank you to all our amazing OSHC staff, who make such a difference in the lives of children, families and communities! ✨ At the Y Ballarat, we’re proud of our programs which nurture and inspire children and young people from their earliest years through to adulthood. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gNmS4rwX #OSHCEducatorsDay #StrongTeams #OSHC #YBallarat

We’re thrilled to be selected as Finalists in the 2024 Federation University Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards, amongst such a stellar lineup. ✨ Congratulations to all Nominees and Finalists! We’ve excited to be listed as Finalists in the 2024 Nevett Wilkinson Frawley Large Business Award and the Stoke Design Co. Not for Profit Business Award categories. We are honored to see the efforts and achievements of all our dedicated teams recognised. Their hard work has supported our growth to become one of the largest Early Years Managers in Victoria and a recognised, active advocate for young people. Through our high-quality early education and care programs, and vital work with young people we aim to empower, educate and inspire the next generation. As a not-for-profit, we’re focused on our communities, and we will continue to strive to create a brighter future with and for young people. #BallBEA2024 #YBallarat #CommerceBallarat #Excellence

We believe in the power of inspired young people. We also believe in the power of collaboration and that through sharing knowledge, we can improve and enhance the experiences and outcomes for young people. Our Youth and Community Impact Manager, Larelle Kuczer, joined up with Stacey Oliver, Coordinator, Youth Services at Ballarat City Council to chair a state-wide online Youth Hub Network meeting. Attended by over 30 youth workers from local government and community organisations, the passionate participants are all actively involved in delivering youth programs or advocating for new youth spaces. A pivotal sharing of ideas and learning, this quarter’s meeting highlighted a range of broader considerations when planning and designing youth focused centres. Pooling knowledge led to fruitful conversations about best practice and overcoming challenges. We’re privileged to be involved in this group and to work with and for young people. Youth spaces are so vital, providing opportunities for connection, social interaction and skill development, especially for some of our most vulnerable young people. #YoungPeople #Youthspaces #Collaboration #Impact

Behind the scenes, there’s always a dedicated crew of workers bringing their expertise every day. Today, on National Payroll Day, we celebrate our incredible Payroll Team! Their vital role helps keep our organisation running smoothly, ensuring that over 750 staff get paid on time, every pay period. The hard work of our Payroll Team contributes to a thriving workplace and staff motivation. Beyond crunching numbers, payroll teams help keep employees happy and secure, as getting paid correctly is a big part of job satisfaction. It's also an area of ongoing change, with our team keeping up to speed with all the relevant Awards, legislation, and reporting requirements. We celebrate our amazing payroll officers here at the Y Ballarat: Lisa, Marisa, and Gordana. A huge thank you for your commitment, for always being friendly and helpful, and for your passion and patience! 👏 #YBallarat #APANationalPayrollDay #StrongTeams