Our vision is that young people have the power to beat injustice and transform the future.
For almost five decades, we’ve seen what’s possible when young people are trusted with real power and not just invited to speak, but resourced, supported, and backed to lead.
Young people today are growing up in a world shaped by deep inequality, climate crisis, and structural injustice. They are globally connected, values-driven, and bring forward creative, courageous solutions to problems they’ve inherited, often without having had a say in how those systems were built.
Yet too often, their leadership is overlooked, their voices dismissed, and the systems around them are not designed to support their vision.
FYA exists to back young people
We back them into real decision-making and leadership, by removing barriers and scaling opportunities where young people hold power and influence.
We back them to design solutions, working as equal partners in shaping the systems and services that affect their lives.
We back them to change the world, by building the strength and sustainability of youth-led movements to progress and win campaigns.
We back First Nations young people and their communities to work towards self-determined First Nations justice.
And we back them to do it their way.
Our Strategy
Meet and connect with young people to create more collective, intersectional movements.
Build young people’s skills and capacity to deliver their vision and strategy.
Secure consistent and ongoing funding and resources to improve the sustainability of youth-led movements and organisations.
Across all of our work, we prioritise achieving self-determined First Nations justice by shifting power to First Nations young people, their communities, and their movements.
Seed exciting, transformative projects led by and centred on young people.
Lead campaigns and amplify their voices on the issues they care about and want to see change on.
Build sustainable movements that support their wellbeing, prevent burnout, nurture relationships and achieve ongoing, consistent investment or backing.
Transformation Process
This work made clear that change cannot be limited to outward delivery alone and that FYA must do the internal work required to live its values with integrity. What emerged from that process continued in 2025, and has shaped a multi-year transformation grounded in lived experience, cultural safety, youth voice and accountability.
Supported by Turnstone Collective, YLab, and DIYDG, this transformation is a long-term commitment to becoming an organisation where young people and First Nations communities are not just participants, but leaders, decision-makers, and knowledge holders. We’ll be sharing updates on milestones, learnings, and challenges as this journey unfolds.
