WE PUT YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE 
CENTRE OF COMPLEX PROBLEMS
‍TO DESIGN THE FUTURE.

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what we offer

We are working to build a workforce of young people thriving in the gig economy, bringing fresh perspectives, to design the future.

We tackle inequality by placing young people with different lived experiences and technical expertise at the centre of re-generating institutions in every sector and every system.

Our services
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Co-design and Facilitation

We put YLab Associates, young people with lived experience and clients together to solve complex problems.
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Creative Services

We make content that reaches out and reflects young people. Our creative services include video production, creative direction, editorial, copywriting, marketing, and design.
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Research and Insights

We find out what young people want and need to navigate an uncertain future.
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Learning and Development

We give young people a leg up by providing immersive, relevant and practical learning and training experiences.
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First Nations

We provide a platform for young mob to be agents for change in creating new self-determined solutions.

Strategy

We put young people at the centre of designing and implementing strategies within organisations and across systems.

OUR 
PEOPLE

Our team bring multidisciplinary skills, future-focused ideas and different lived experience to meet challenges head on.

> Meet our people> See our model

New at YLab

Learn about our recent achievements and internal projects.

2020 Year in Review Report

Co-design Challenge

In our YLab Year in Review, we use survey and project data to look back at our 2020 successes and impact, detail case studies of some of our most important work, and meet all the young people who made it all happen. 

YLab established the COVID-19 co-design challenge to understand the challenges young people are facing within the context of COVID-19 and design innovative solutions to these problems. 

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OUR 
work

We bring co-design and systems thinking approaches to regenerating institutions in every sector and every system.

> Read case studies

Co-designing Senior Secondary Pathways

Brimbank Youth Jobs Strategy

The Oasis Youth Homelessness Project

Jobs Jumpstart Video Series

Words From our people

Employment Can Be More Than Just a Job

What if we dreamed big and designed employment to bring out young people's passion, skills, and ideas - increasing their connection to community, professional networks and enabling continuous learning opportunities in the process? Driven by a purposeful ‘why’, employment-focused social enterprises can have the power to address unemployment challenges by doing things differently.

Test, Adapt, Repeat: How to co-design online

Akash Patel

5 Lessons learnt from the YLab Co-design challenge: With social isolation measures in place, our usual face to face workshops had to be adjusted. So, butcher’s paper, sharpies and a gratuitous amount of post-it notes were substituted for completely virtual spaces. From the many lessons learnt from this process, here were 5 insights that will help anyone looking to facilitate online

Reconciliation – Making space and acknowledging privilege

Rona Glynn-McDonald

The world is currently looking for a new way forward. First Nations communities across Australia and the globe hold many of the answers, and many Australians are beginning to adopt some of these cultural systems and ways of being like never before. 

The role of resilience in times of crisis

Bianca (Bee) Orsini

COVID-19 is testing people to the depths of their capabilities. We are seeing how people across the world respond when pushed to seemingly impossible limits. From frontline health workers, people caring for themselves and loved ones in unprecedented circumstances, and government and businesses making decisions which involve trillions of dollars and will impact the livelihood of billions. 

our clients

Our clients recognise the unique value of Australia’s young people in generating positive systems change.
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Testimonials

The member for Murray Plains and I attended the Swan Hill YLab, with the parliamentarians leaving with a better understanding of youth issues and youth perceptions of Parliament and the young participants leaving with a better understanding of our democracy and a number of them planning to enrol to vote.

Peter Crisp

Minister of Parliament, Victoria

Thank you for the opportunity to attend the Love and Money workshop over the weekend. It was a fantastic one and I felt very invigorated after! I have worked in the public sector in Melbourne and have come to the conclusion that there aren't enough young people, particularly people of colour, involved in urban planning and shaping design strategies in their cities.

Pratika

CO DESIGN PARTICIPANT

CHANGE THE SYSTEM



We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we all meet and work throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water, and community and pay respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

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Imagined by the Foundation for Young Australians

WE PUT YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE CETRE OF COMPLEX PROBLEMS TO DESIGN THE FUTURE.

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