YMCA WA Quarterly Newsletter: July 2018
Contents
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As we reach the halfway mark for 2018, we have seen some exciting developments in the child care sector at YMCA WA. In May we acquired an additional Early Learning Centre, based in Westminster, bringing us to a total of 11 Early Learning Centre’s in Western Australia.
We also welcomed an additional Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service at Waikiki Primary School in April, which has received great feedback from the school and local community in the short time we have been there. Speaking of OSHC, we will soon be announcing some exciting news in this area of the business, so stay tuned to our social media channels for updates.
In fact, when I reflect on the past year we have been very busy! During 2017-18 Financial Year across all the YMCA WA recreation centres we operate in WA, we have facilitated 9,881 fitness classes, 1,970 new members signed up, launched 19 new programs and hosted 162 events across all 10 centres. Hopefully the ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ messages are working?
As a youth movement, it’s always encouraging when our mission work is recognized and rewarded. Read the articles in this issue about The Base@Belmont and YMCA HQ who both received some extra funding to continue their great work.
In May, YMCA Australia re-designed the Why Not website, providing even more power to inspired young people to speak out on issues most concerning them. The Why Not website was created as part of the campaign that featured Boy George covering ‘YMCA’ by The Village People. The updated website has created a platform for young people to have their voice heard across Australia.
Most of the articles are short, so I encourage you to take a moment and visit the website to read some of the stories young people have submitted to date. If you are a young person or know any young people who have a story they’d like to share, let them know their voice can be heard! Articles can be submitted via the contact form on the Why Not website and each successful submission will receive a $50 cash reward. I look forward to reading more articles as they are published over the coming months. Head here to view the Why Not web page.
Finally, I’d like to wish parents and children across Western Australia a happy and safe school holidays, and best of luck to university students through exam result release over the coming weeks.
Ross Kyrwood, CEO
YMCA HQ took to crowdfunding platform, Startsomegood, throughout May, with the aim of sourcing $10,000 to redevelop the iconic art hub in Leederville. Thanks to a generous donation from the Holly Wood trust, together with donations from HQ supporters, they raised $11,020.
As a result, works are in progress to install a professional sprung dance floor, full-length mirrors, dance barre, and the refurbishment of the sound desk.
Andrew Rigg, YMCA HQ Manager confirmed “Our gig space is important to young people as it’s a safe space for them to practice, perform and really express themselves. HQ is a popular meeting point for many young artists and we wanted to be able to extend our reach.”
“The cost to hire dance studios is often so expensive young people can’t afford it and many are left to practice in car parks or on the streets. Now we will be able to hire out our venue, at very low rent, to dance and performance artists, as well as host dance competitions.”
HQ is still under renovation and is set to re-open in the coming weeks. Check out the YMCA HQ Facebook page for more information or call 08 9328 3221 to make a booking.
Left to right: Andrew Rigg, YMCA HQ Manager; Ben Taaffe, YMCA HQ Business Development Officer; Taciano Cavalcante (kneeling), YMCA HQ Youth Worker; Nadiah Biddle, Hood Ent. Choreographer; Petch Forvig, Gig Space Shift Lead; Lillian Keenan, YMCA HQ Youth Leadership Group member; Ian DeMello, Hood Ent. Founder.
On Monday 28 May, YMCA WA and YMCA VIC hosted the first Youth Summit. It is the first initiative of its kind and was designed to open up conversation with young people to debate ways of preventing mental illness - rather than treating it.
A variety of youth workers from YMCA WA, Youth Focus and Mission Australia were in attendance, along with a delegation of young people, parents and special guests Brant Garvey, Paralympian athlete & Paris Mitchell, motivational speaker.
The morning session, held in YMCA HQ, Leederville, was a selection of very powerful presentations from guest speakers, as well as a live link between Victoria and Western Australia, with people talking about their experiences with mental illness and their personal journeys.
In the afternoon, facilitated by Simon Hammond of the Be Council, attendees workshopped the question ‘In a time of unprecedented mental health concern for young people, how can we help more young people avoid the pain of mental illness in the first place?’
Attendees broke into groups to discuss their thoughts and then Simon opened the debate. Recommendations from the groups, and most importantly young people, were then recorded and will be presented to policymakers as recommendations.
Tia Sandhu, YMCA Youth Project Coordinator & Global Change Agent, explained “As a young person myself, and a representative of YMCA WA, I felt it essential to hear the voice of young people around the massive issue of mental illness and wellbeing. The afternoon brainstorm session was great to see what young people and youth services believe is most important in tackling youth mental health issues.
“We hope the recommendations, which will be drawn up from the Youth Summit, help policymakers hear what young people think and want.”
One of the recommendations from the Youth Summit is to ban mobile phones from schools - which is in line with recent studies announced just after the Youth Summit.
Above: Tia Sandhu, Youth Project Coordinator & Global Change Agent at YMCA WA crosses live over to the YMCA Youth Summit in Victoria with our passionate Youth Summit Attendees.
In May the Base@Belmont team were delighted to be awarded a $10,000 Centenary Grant from Commonwealth Bank Belmont, as part of the bank’s 100-year legacy of giving to community organisations.
The YMCA WA Base@Belmont Youth Centre provides support for young people between the ages of 11-25 through a variety of activities, workshops and programs which is made possible thanks to the partnership between the City of Belmont and YMCA WA.
The inspiring and far reaching impact of the work undertaken by the YMCA WA in Belmont was a crucial factor in it receiving the grant.
“We’re thrilled to be able to support organisations like YMCA WA in the important work they do for our local community,” says Commonwealth Bank Belmont Branch Manager, Gerrit Myburgh.
The grant will go towards a Youth Leadership Camp scheduled for the end of this year.
“We are very grateful for the generous contribution and support from the Commonwealth Bank and the Belmont Branch team. The grant will be used to facilitate a five day bush adventure camp, providing the opportunity for young people to leave their comfort zones to learn new skills, build positive relationships and promote health and wellbeing,” says Base Manager, David Reid.
For many young people this will be their first experience of camping, their first time away from home and away from their everyday environments. Leaving technology behind and being surrounded by nature provides the opportunity for the young people to relax and reset, returning tired but strengthened from their experience and ready to tackle every day challenges and achieve their goals.
The Base ran a similar camp last year, made possible by a grant from Westpac Bank, which was a great success. Throughout the adventure everyone learnt how to conquer their fears by taking the plunge to try abseiling, their endurance was tested during long bush trekking, but they learnt tenacity and most importantly how to support and encourage one another during this growth journey.
“I feel like I have changed a lot since camp. I believe in myself a lot more and I feel more confident now. I have learned a lot of new skills and I’m proud to have been selected because it means that I have the skills to be a future leader”, confirmed Jacey Peucker, 2017 Leadership camp participant.
The youth workers at the Base@Belmont continue to support the young people after the camp through educational and recreational programs to grow in body, mind and spirit and positively engage in their community. Recent auditing shows their programs are having an ongoing positive impactful for the young people who attend and hence the community of Belmont.
Back row (left to right): Justin, Alanna, Dave, Breahna, Laura.
Front row (left to right): Caroline, Tyson, Shantelle, Georgia, AJ, Rhianen.
On 28 June 2018 YMCA RSAS Newman held a ‘Fuel2Learn’ community cook up event in Newman town square. Over 80 locals attended the evening event, where nine RSAS students from Newman Senior High School (NSHS), led by Sue Lovett, YMCA RSAS Coordinator and Courtney Moyes, Home Economics teacher at NSHS, together with a further 10 volunteers, prepared and cooked approximately 100 meals in a commercial kitchen, provided by The Edge Kitchen using ingredients donated by Woolworths Newman, for their families and the local community. In the background RSAS ran a slideshow on the big screen of the students in action, whilst the crowds and special guests, YMCA CEO Ross Kyrwood, and Executive Manager – Service Delivery, Shane Mauger, Save The Children volunteers, NSHS staff and off-duty YMCA staff enjoyed the stylings of a local year 12 student who sang and played guitar.
Whilst a variety of healthy options were being cooked, including beef rissoles, mashed potato and salad, generously provided by Woolworths Newman, the student’s younger siblings watched on in awe through the glass kitchen doors, saying to passer-by’s “that’s my brother” or in some cases, sister.
The fuel2learn initiative was first started by RSAS to help increase school attendance by providing a healthy breakfast on the school bus, but the program has evolved to provide hot lunches in school, and now RSAS students are learning to cook and assisting in the cooking of up to 100 meals a week for fellow students.
As a result of the program school attendance figures have certainly grown. During the evening RSAS presented Awards for Attendance in the form of food hampers, donated by Woolworths Newman, which contained the student’s favourite recipe and all the necessary ingredients so they could make it at home. One young man won the Most Improved Award; his attendance level has grown from 0% in March to over 60% by June and he actively participates in the fuel2learn program every week. In fact, his father was so proud of him, when his son received his Award his father ran up on stage to get a photo with his son.
Sue Lovett, YMCA RSAS Coordinator, explained “The program has grown in success over the past few months and it was so rewarding to see the student’s faces light up from all the positive feedback coming from the community.”
YMCA WA CEO, Ross Kyrwood, commended the success of the program.
“It is inspiring to see firsthand the positive impact The Y is having on local communities. The program has achieved such positive outcomes in a relatively short period of time.”
The evening was a great success with the event generating a real sense of community and pride for the young people. The RSAS students were so enthusiastic they suggested cooking for their families every week!
Check out some of our favourite shots at the event on Facebook.
Above: Quallan Narrier(left) and Zavarna Ryan (right) from NSHS lend a helping hand in the kitchen - shot by .
YMCA Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre transformed into a ring of fast-paced action on Saturday 2 June when they hosted the Domination 20 Muay Thai championships.
Featuring a lineup of skilled Perth Muay Thai competitors, the local boys knocked their way through the ranks match by match before welcoming Toby Smith and Sam Gough to the ring for the fight everyone had been waiting for - the WKN World Title.
After a treacherous three-round battle to defend his Australian Muay Thai Champion title, the referee called a win for Toby, cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with within the Muay Thai league.
To enquire about hosting an event at YMCA Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre please call 08 9550 6777.
Above: Sam Gough (left) and Toby Smith (right) battle for top title - shot by Emanuel Rudnicki Fight Photography.
YMCA WA Corporate Services recently welcomed our four-legged friends to the office on 22 June 2018 in recognition of International Take your Dog to Work Day.
Although this is an annual celebration, YMCA WA encourages the company of canines in the office every Friday as part of our Doggy Day Friday initiative, but why do we celebrate Doggy Day Friday?
Research shows the presence of dogs in the workplace boosts morale, increases activity and keeps workers motivated. Bringing your dog to work also provides an opportunity to step away from your workspace to get outside and enjoy some fresh air while your dog roams.
Meet Jack (left) and Amira (right) below! Jack and Amira are our resident support pooches, returning to the office each Friday. Jack is stationed with his owner Shenae in Human Resources and enjoys a friendly greeting with everyone that passes by, and taking naps. Amira likes to stay tucked away in the Finance office and enjoys attention from all visitors and exploring the garden at YMCA.
Keep an eye on our social media channels in future for more pictures of our four-legged friends on Doggy Day Friday!
YMCA WA has been providing vital children's child care services in remote and metro communities across Western Australia, including 11 Early Learning Centres, 24 Out of School Care services, and 43 Family Day Care and In-Home services for over twenty years.
All our childcare staff are qualified and experienced early childhood educators, and cater for children aged 6 weeks up to 12 years. YMCA WA is incredibly proud of its external accreditation as a child safe organisation which showcases our commitment to the safety, supervision, and protection of the children we care for. It's our number one priority!
Therefore, we are delighted to announce two of our Educators, Belinda Robinson, representing Bunbury & South-West region, and Emma Catt, representing Karratha, Port Hedland and Pilbara region have just been awarded the 2018 Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) Regional Excellence in Family Day Care Award for their outstanding work. Congratulations!
This year almost 2,300 educator nominations were received around Australia, resulting in 69 regional educator winners being selected. Belinda and Emma will now run against other regional winners for National Family Day Care Educator of the Year award, announced 6 August 2018.
Should you be interested in a career as a YMCA Educator please visit our website for more information.
Did you know YMCA WA offers a comprehensive selection of over 100 different training programs facilitated across Western Australia?
With 13,580 students enrolled in 2017, our popular training programs cover many bases including Leadership and Management, First Aid, Business, Early Childhood Education and Care, and more. With courses offered from a Diploma Level, we completed 175,000 student assessments in 2017 and enjoyed an intake of 2,500 students above our nearest competitor.
Whether you’re looking to further your qualifications in a Diploma of Leadership, or learn life-saving skills in one of our various First Aid skills courses, YMCA WA can provide you with practical and affordable options, with our experienced training facilitators across the state. For more information on YMCA training, head to www.ymcatraining.org.au or call 08 9473 8400 to speak to our friendly training staff.
