The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) is an Australian non-profit organisation whose purpose is to back young people with the trust, resources, skills, and connections to make change. The organisation's vision is that young people have the power to beat injustice and transform the future. It became a registered charity in 1999.'The Foundation for Young Australians'. Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
History Partnerships The FYA has a history of partnering with individuals, organisations and schools. It was formed in 2000 through a partnership between The Queen's Trust for Young Australians (1977–2000)Queen's Trust for Young Australians. Record ID: 36589530 (Libraries Australia Authorities). National Library of Australia. and the Australian Youth Foundation (1987–2000).
In July 2008 an alliance was formed between the Education Foundation and the FYA. The Education Foundation was founded in 1989 by Ellen Koshland with the aim of developing and delivering education programs, community engagement and research to Australian students. The partnership was to establish the FYA as the primary advocate for young Australians.
Research, submissions and publications FYA has previously published research on the future of work, and the challenges young people facing in transitioning between education and employment.Young people unprepared for evolving labour market. PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 September 2016. In 2012, the FYA calculated that 30% of students who left high school in Year 9 or below were NEET.
In 2013, the FYA made a submission to the Australian House of Representatives Inquiry on the Australian Education Bill 2012'Australian Education Bill 2012'. Parliament of Australia.AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION BILL 2012. Bills Digest no. 73 2012–13. Parliamentary Library of Australia. with 5 recommendations:
The bill passed as The Australian Education Act 2013, received the Royal Assent 27 June 2013 and passed into law 1 January 2014. 'Australian Education Act 2013'. No. 67, 2013. Parliament of Australia.'Australian Education Act 2013'. Department of Education (Australia).
A 2014 report by the FYA found that people under the age of 24 were likely to be worse off than their parents, with a 30% unemployment rate and more university debt and spending most income on housing.Youth today could be first Australian generation worse-off than parents. RN Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 September 2016. The FYA also made a submission to the Australian Department of Education 'Review to Achieve Excellence in Australian Schools' led by David Gonski that was released in 2018.Review to Achieve Excellence in Australian Schools. Department of Education (Australia).Public submission made to the Review to Achieve Excellence in Australian Schools. Australian Government.
In 2020, under new CEO, Nick Moraitis, FYA released an updated three-year strategy, positioning the organisation as a strategic intermediary backing young people with trust, resources, skills and connections to make change.
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