The YLAA Story

At Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA), we are driven by a passion to empower the next generation of Australian leaders. As a youth-led, not-for-profit organisation, we specialise in equipping young people from Year 5 to Year 12 with the essential skills to lead themselves, their schools, and their communities.

YLAA delivers its mission through three core methods:
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‍In-Person Events: Our National Tour features inspiring conferences, bringing together thousands of students to engage with top-tier speakers and hands-on workshops.
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‍School-Based Programs: Tailored workshops conducted within schools, focusing on student leadership development and community engagement.
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‍Partnerships with Government Agencies Through partnerships with local and state government, we deliver Youth Council Retreats,Regional Youth Summits and tailored solutions, providing young leaders with immersive experiences that foster community engagement and strategic thinking.

At YLAA, we believe in the potential of every young person to make a positive impact. Our programs are designed not just to educate, but to inspire a lasting movement of young leaders ready to tackle the challenges of today and shape a brighter future for all. Together, we are building a legacy of empowered youth who will lead with confidence, compassion, and a commitment to their communities.

2018.

An idea, host a one day event in Perth financially and geographically accessible for young people to realise their potential as young leaders and be equipped with the skills to lead their schools and communities.

By August 2018, this was a reality - 65 young people from 4 schools joined us at our first Secondary Youth Leadership Conference.

95.3% left the room feeling more prepared for the future and more confident to lead their school. These results are what made at the time 16 year old Wil Massara know that YLAA was needed in young peoples lives and that it must be led by young people.

Perth State Youth Leadership Conference, Leederville Football Club (28th August 2018)

Our Mission

To equip, educate and empower young people how to lead themselves, your schools and our communities across Australia.

Our Vision

To ensure all young people have access to skills that empower them, regardless of their financial situation.

Today.

50000

Over 50,000 young people have been positively impacted by YLAA events and programs both in person and online.

1100+

Over 1100 primary and secondary schools supported across Australia.

100%

100% of of profits from YLAA programs fund Youth Suicide Prevention Programs across Australia.

How we make an impact

Our action-packed youth leadership conferences and events are designed to equip young people with the skills and confidence to be leaders in their communities, and to take charge of their futures. Delivered by renowned professionals and inspirational young leaders, our primary school and high school events will inspire, strengthen and empower your future leaders.

We work with you to craft tailor-made school and community leadership programs suited for your young leaders and your community’s needs. We prioritise our for-youth, by-youth approach, which enables our program leaders to connect with and inspire young participants. All of our facilitators have had a minimum of 5 years experience within the Youth Leadership industry, and we follow up all our programs with an intensive 3-month post-event program, designed to reinforce the skills taught in the program and maximise the momentum created by your young leaders.

Our online programs and communities provide accessible support, resources, and connection for young people and leaders across the country. YLAA prioritises equity and strongly believes that all youth, regardless of their background or location, should have access to high-quality educational and leadership resources, in order to be empowered with the skills and inspiration to take their futures into their own hands.

We collaborate with incredibly inspiring people who share our vision of a positively sustainable future in which all young people can thrive and achieve their greatest potential. We share the stories and lessons of successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and philanthropists to engage and inspire young leaders to step up and change the world around them.

We engage with, and share conversation with, those who support young people in their endeavours and futures, in order to provide youth-centred, innovative advice and guidance on the issues facing youth today.

In 2021 we are taking a fresh approach to our operations, expanding our research and development arm to ensure that we can continue to provide effective, relevant, and tailored experiences to youth across the country. We stay ahead of the trends and ensure that the information we deliver is best designed to equip youth with the tools to be leaders not only today, but in the future.

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Our Partners

YLAA partners with impactful organisations around Australia to support and deliver programs and events around Australia. With the support of our partners we continue to educate, equip and empower young people with the skills to lead themselves, your schools and our communities across Australia.

As YLAA moves to a social enterprise over the next 12 months, we are now on the lookout for innovative, future focused organisations who are committed to building up the next generation of leaders and building a future we can all look forward too.

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