We are proud to be one of Canberra’s largest not-for-profit community organisations that have helped shape the sporting, cultural and community life of our nations’ capital.

From humble beginnings stretching back to 1941, YMCA Canberra has long delivered on its promise to work with all members of the community to create a brighter future for the next generation.

The areas we now work in continue to diversify and push us to adapt and respond to the community needs. Working across health, recreation and fitness, children’s programs, disability, accommodation and hospitality services and youth services – we continue to deliver on our vision and mission for the communities we serve.

We believe in the Power of Inspired Young People.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

YMCA Canberra’s programs and services advocate for children and young people to voice their concerns with our services, and to be confident in offering feedback; an important aspect of creating a culture where children and young people’s well-being is valued.

YMCA Canberra has a commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable people first and foremost in all of our programs and activities. We have extensive Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures which help us to continually embed a safe culture. We are accredited by the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) and continually improve our child protection processes, systems and monitoring programs. This accreditation ensures our actions comply with key safeguarding standards: 

  • Commitment to safeguarding children 
  • Personnel roles and conduct 
  • Recruitment and screening 
  • Personnel induction and training 
  • Involving children and parents 
  • Child abuse reports and allegations
  • Supporting a child-safe culture A crucial aspect of Safeguarding Children and Young People is ensuring our staff understand the process for reporting any concerns they have about a child or young person’s wellbeing in line with ACT Legislation, Children and Young People Act 2008.

Download SCYP Policy and Code of Conduct 2018

YMCA CANBERRA SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS

The revenue generated by Leumeah Lodge is used to assist with the funding of many diverse community-based programs that YMCA Canberra delivers. Some of these programs include:

Y WEX

Y WEX is YMCA Canberra’s work experience program for students with intellectual disability. Its primary purpose is to improve post-school employment outcomes for its participants. We partner with Black Mountain School to provide work experience opportunities for their students across four of the YMCA’s work areas. By the end of 2017, YMCA Canberra was the largest provider of work experience opportunities to students with intellectual disability in the ACT and the program was recognised with an ACT Education award. We have placed one participant in an Australian School Based Apprenticeship and intend to offer more Apprenticeships in the coming weeks.

EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS & PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Our programs at the Chifley Health and Fitness Centre and our community based PrYme Movers programs are primarily focussed on either older adults or people with disability. These programs are collectively cost negative and form the nexus of our benevolent work. We offer multiple services within this broad category: exercise physiology, targeted group programs for people with arthritis, targeted group programs for people with cancer, general group programs for older adults, targeted group programs for people with mobility limitations, and open gym access.

SENIOR’S SPORTS CARNIVAL

The Senior’s Sports Carnival is an annual event for older adults in residential care. The Carnival consists of multiple modified sporting events, where participants compete for their residential care facility. The carnival is preceded by six weeks of training by Sports Science-student volunteers. The training and Carnival increase the mobility, confidence, and social connectedness of participating older adults.

RAID BASKETBALL

RAID Basketball is a weekly program for people with intellectual disability. The program is facilitated by high school student-volunteers. The program aims to achieve distinct outcomes for the participants with disability and the student volunteers. The student volunteers develop leadership skills and become advocates for inclusion. The participants build their social skills, their physical skills and their confidence, leading to higher levels of independence.

SPARK Program

YMCA Holt Early Learning Centre, CIT and Ginninderry Training and Employment Initiative partnered to deliver the SPARK program. This innovative accredited training program focused on skills development, work experience and employment within the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECAC) sector.

School Reconciliation Challenge

YMCA Canberra was proud to join a local consortium to support the Schools Reconciliation Challenge, an art and writing competition that engages students from Years 5-9 in learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and reconciliation.

Create Foundation

Our relationship has enabled us to be connected to, and support, some of Canberra’s most vulnerable children and young people

Youth Space @ Civic

An amazing new Youth Space in the heart of Civic! The Youth Space is a safe place for all young people aged 12 – 20. Open every Thursday and Friday from 2-7pm it is a space to have fun, get support and advice, learn new skills, participate in great activities, and for young people to express themselves.