​Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) just scored a $10,000 grant from the 2025 Youth Engagement Grants Program to kick off a new initiative in Albany. This program is all about empowering young Aussies with leadership skills and creating opportunities for them to get involved in their communities. The funding will help YLAA roll out workshops, events, and mentorship programs in the Albany area, aiming to boost youth participation and leadership development. This move highlights the government's commitment to supporting youth-led projects and investing in the future of young leaders across the country.​

​On 26 June 2024, Federation Youth Councillors participated in the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Hay, hosted by the Hay Youth Taskforce. The event brought together over 70 young individuals from the Riverina Murray region, including representatives from Albury, Griffith, Lockhart, Bland (West Wyalong), and Balranald. Facilitated by Wil Massara and Bonnie Ryan-Rowe from Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA), the summit focused on enhancing leadership skills through teamwork, self-leadership, and communication exercises. In the afternoon, participants collaborated in small groups to develop initiatives addressing regional issues such as youth crime, social media bullying, mental health support, vaping, and family and domestic violence. The day concluded with presentations of their project plans to peers and youth leaders.

The Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) recently hosted the Shire of Broome’s Youth Forum, creating a powerful platform for young people to speak up and shape the future of their community. The event, which has already taken place, brought together local youth to share their ideas, concerns, and hopes for Broome.

Backed by the Shire, the forum gave participants the chance to influence real decisions and connect with local leaders. From community safety to more engaging youth spaces, attendees didn’t hold back – and their input is already being considered in shaping upcoming projects.

YLAA continues to champion youth leadership nationwide, and this forum is just one example of how they’re putting young people in the driver’s seat.

Wil Massara, founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA), recently featured in The Educator with a powerful article on how leadership skills can help young people thrive in life. In the piece, he highlights the importance of self-leadership, understanding personality types, and stepping outside comfort zones. Wil also shares practical ways educators can model leadership and co-design opportunities that empower students to take ownership of their personal development.

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The 2023 South Burnett Youth Council has set its goals for the year following a two-day training program hosted at Griffith University’s Kingaroy Hospital campus. The training was facilitated by Wil Massara and Christie King from Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA), an organisation dedicated to equipping young Australians with leadership skills.

South Burnett councillor Danita Potter and Council’s community development coordinator Margie Hams also joined the sessions, which focused on developing communication and leadership capabilities. The program provided Youth Councillors with the opportunity to collaborate, build confidence, and set a clear direction for their work in 2023.

YLAA’s involvement reflects their ongoing commitment to empowering young people to create meaningful change within their communities.

Wil Massara, who launched Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) at just 15, has announced the organisation will begin to transition into a registered charity. The move comes as YLAA nears the $1 million revenue mark, reflecting its rapid growth and national impact.

Originally started to empower young people through leadership training, YLAA has now reached thousands across Australia. Wil’s unconventional journey—from stepping away from school to running a high-impact organisation—shows how passion and purpose can fuel real change. As a charity, YLAA aims to expand its reach even further, continuing to back the next generation of leaders.

In September 2022, Wil Massara, Founder and CEO of Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA), was featured on Studio 10, where he shared the story behind YLAA and his core belief in prioritising impact over income.

During the interview, Wil spoke about the model that drives YLAA — one built on the idea that young people don’t need to wait until they’re older to make a difference. He highlighted how the organisation supports students across the country to grow in confidence, develop self-leadership, and take real action in their schools and communities.

Wil’s message was clear: when young people are empowered and equipped, they can achieve extraordinary things — and the ripple effect of that impact goes far beyond the individual.

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The South Burnett Youth Council is a group of 13 young people from across the region who have been gaining experience and training in leadership. Established in 2022, the Youth Council provides an opportunity for young people to advocate for their peers who live, work, and study in the South Burnett. In September 2023, the Youth Council hosted a meet'n'greet event for local businesspeople at the Kingaroy Town Hall reception room. During the event, they spoke about their recent activities, including organising the PigJam music and Pigs Can Fly art competitions in conjunction with Kingaroy BaconFest.