The Y Whittlesea

👱♀️International Women's Day 👩🦰 Today we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD), which honors the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. 🥳 The United Nations theme this year is, “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation – youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls – as catalysts for lasting change. At Y Whittlesea, we celebrate the incredible contributions of women in our community. From our dedicated staff to the participants we support, we recognise their achievements, resilience, and leadership. Through inclusive programs and opportunities, we empower women of all abilities to thrive, grow, and make a meaningful impact every day. Together, we can be the generation to close the gap to achieve gender equality 🥰 #MarchForward #iwd2025

The Y has always been a place where people feel a sense of safety, belonging and community. On Saturday, we were proud to celebrate that by marching in the 2025 Sydney Mardi Gras.    🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ Our entry to the march focused on empowerment and belonging through the theme of ‘A Freer Future: Why Not Be Me? Queer Young People Are Powerful!”.     🩷 We had 76 Y people from across Australia join us and we were led by eight amazing superheroes, each with their own proud and powerful superpowers.     ⚡ Our commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming environment for our employees is our superpower.     As our CEO Alexandra Ash GAICD puts it, “Y Australia is unwavering in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We support all young people to be free to be themselves.”    Hopefully we’ll see Sydney again at Mardi Gras next year! For now – some of our favourite snaps of our wonderful staff, volunteers and members. Y Careers The Y NSW The Y WA The Y Whittlesea YMCA Victoria YMCA South Australia YMCA Queensland The Y Ballarat The Y Canberra Region Y Services Pty Ltd

On Saturday some of our inclusion services team got dressed up all sparkly and fabulous to proudly march in the Sydney Mardi Gras to celebrate love, inclusion and the freedom to be 🏳️🌈 It was so special to share this experience with staff, volunteers and participants from Y’s all over Australia. #freetobe #inclusion

🤩 Introducing our amazing Inclusion team! 😍 We would love for you to read our stories here: https://lnkd.in/gTbf9Rqm #yinclusionservices #DisabilityServices #SkilledCaregivers #SupportMatters #SupportIndependence

The Y Inclusion Services provide NDIS Overnight Support services to support you in your home or community stay. You can also combine both 1:1 home and community supports in the one day. Get in touch with The Y to design your support needs: https://lnkd.in/gFYYcpQE #yinclusionservices #DisabilityServices #SupportMatters #SkilledCaregivers #ndissupportcoordination

Each January our Y Retreat Camp goes to VALID's Have a Say Conference! This special Retreat is all about participants learning to be change agents, letting them know that they are heard and their experiences valued. The program at the Conference covers: * Self Advocacy, Leadership & Goal Setting * Housing, Employment & Support * Community Building, Social Connection & Storytelling * Health, Wellbeing and Creative Workshops * NDIS Information Highlight of the conference was the dinner and disco on the last night with lots of cool dance moves on the dance floor! 🕺 💞

Today is Safer Internet Day and this year's theme is to help make the internet a safer, and more positive place. We have some tips on how you can make the internet a safer, more positive place for everyone. 💖 Be kind - practice respect, empathy and kindness online 🧘♀️ Be mindful - balance your time online, being mindful of content you consume and share 📣 Speak up - report online abuse and harmful content 💬 Start the conversation - engage in discussions about online safety within your networks 📖 Share resources - promote online safety and share resources with people you know. We want all children and young people to have a great time scrolling, posting and exploring the internet. But without the right guardrails, they can be at risk of harm. Days like today remind us to check in with children and young people about their online activity and do what we can to create a safer, more positive place online. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/gPkRqUyd

At the Y, we’re all about fostering independence for individuals with disabilities. Whether it’s learning new life skills, navigating daily tasks, or building confidence to live life your way – we’re here to support YOU. Independence isn’t just a goal; it’s a journey, and our team is with you every step of the way! Read the article about 5 Ways our Services Build Independence: https://lnkd.in/gADrEbTZ

Y Whittlesea is excited to announce we will be marching in the Mardi Gras this year! Ys from across Australia are marching together with young people to champion belonging, inclusivity and the rights of queer young people. The Y in Australia recently made a shift from the YMCA to the Y, to be more inclusive of diverse peoples. Together, our staff, volunteers and communities work hard to support young people’s voices and freedom to be themselves. #freetobe #mardigras #yvalues Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras The Y Australia

Meet Sarah, one of our experienced and dedicated Camp Coordinator! In her role, Sarah plans under-18 and small group camps, creating fun, inclusive programs that match participants and staff based on their interests and needs. She liaises with campsites and ensures every detail is tailored to provide meaningful support for families and unforgettable experiences for participants.