As part of Hub Australia’s commitment as a Certified B-Corporation, 1% of our memberships are allocated to non-profit and social impact organisations.
One of those organisations is the Foundation for Young Australians.
In today’s post our National Impact Lead, Jan Stewart, took the time to interview Jan Owen AM, the CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians and YLab, the global youth futures lab. It is her lifelong mission is to unleash the potential of young people to lead positive change in the world.
What is the background of the Foundation for Young Australians?
Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has been around in its current form since 2000. In that period it has evolved from primarily a strategic philanthropy organisation to a leading researcher, influencer and social innovation hub.
FYA inspires and equips young people to imagine, navigate and drive their future and that of our communities and nation.
In 2016 FYA established a social enterprise YLab. YLab trains and employs young people, and those who work with them, to co-design and deliver systems change projects with a diverse range of clients including governments, schools, industry and not for profits.
FYA engages with 200,000 young people across Australia on and offline each year.
Read more: Making an Impact with Zoë Condliffe
What programs are you working on?
Our work has a strong focus on ensuring young people have an entrepreneurial mindset and the skills and capabilities to equip them for a changing world.
In 2009 FYA established Australia’s now longest running incubator for young entrepreneurs. We have supported, backed and helped grow 300 young social innovators with social change ventures in education, health, the environment, mental health, cities and more across the length and breadth of Australia.
We also run the largest in-school student entrepreneurship program called $20 Boss, with 26,000 students in all parts of Australia and 2,500 successful enterprises focusing on planet, purpose and people, established this year alone.
And for the past 6 years, we have been working with over 100 young indigenous school students in a 3-year leadership and enterprise development across the top end of WA and in the NT.
Why do you like working out of Hub Australia?
Firstly, Hub Australia has nailed community! We love the diversity of people in the Hub from individuals to small and larger teams. The program of activities, meetups and pop-ups is useful and interesting and aimed at connecting and engaging people.
Secondly, it is a beautiful space. Better than any other co-working space we have seen. The individual spaces, the calmness, the greenery …. they all inspire creativity and focus.
Thirdly, the full/multiple services offering at Hub Australia is unique. As well as being a potential one-stop shop it facilitates collaboration between the members.
Read more: Why People Thrive In Coworking Spaces
Why is Hub Australia a good partner for Foundation for Young Australians?
We are completely aligned in our values: both our organisations want to support, back and grow entrepreneurs and facilitate unlikely collaborations.
We have also learnt an enormous amount from Hub Australia about how to do things at FYA, including building our own youth entrepreneurship hub – FYAHub – this year!
