Contributing to Society
Foundation for Young Australians
Overview of Year Four
“In strengthening a spirit of unity – in the family, the nation and beyond – young people have an essential part to play, and their enthusiasm needs to be used to the full. To help them appreciate their responsibilities to society, both in work and in leisure, and to guide their enthusiasm towards improving the quality of life, not only for themselves but also for others and for future generations, will serve well the whole community and the nation.”
Sir Vincent Fairfax, 94th Annual Meeting of the Boys’ Brigade, 3 December 1976
Since its inception in 1962 VFFF has engaged with young people. The Trust Deed encapsulated Sir Vincent’s interest in youth development and empowerment, and this interest has been sustained throughout the Foundation’s history.
Today, in keeping with the family’s desire to uphold this legacy, the Contributing to Society portfolio seeks opportunities where organisations are building young people’s skills, capacity and networks to create change. Organisations funded in this focus area genuinely embed youth voices in their work, equip and connect young people to shape better futures, and support a greater diversity and representation of these young people to influence decisions that affect and matter to them.
In FY25, VFFF Directors approved three grants under Contributing to Society. Two were new partnerships: the Alannah & Madeline Foundation – empowering young people to drive change on digital issues that matter to them through advocacy, and Foyer Foundation – embedding and expanding their Youth Engagement and Youth Ambassadors Programs. Continuing a long-standing partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, VFFF is supporting a place-based pilot program, Next Gen Blueprint where rural and regional communities will be assisted to build the next generation of ‘doers’.
In keeping with Sir Vincent’s vision, this year’s partnerships seek to equip young people with the tools, confidence and connections to lead with purpose. Whether through digital advocacy, peer-led engagement, or place-based leadership, these initiatives reflect a commitment to youth as active contributors to society. By embedding youth voice in decision-making and supporting diverse pathways for influence, VFFF continues to foster a culture where young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are heard and empowered to shape their futures.
Grants Snapshot
$5.1m
approved
3
grants
41%
of total funding
100%
for program funding
77%
to regional areas
Grants
2025
Alannah & Madeline Foundation, $1,400,000 over three years
To co-design, develop and grow a new program: “Youth Voices Shaping Our Digital Future” and roll it out across Australian schools with a dedicated focus on engaging rural and regional communities.
Foyer Foundation, $850,000 over two years
To empower 80+ young people with experience of youth homelessness to become confident, capable leaders and influence decision makers on important issues such as homelessness, education and employment.
Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, $2,900,000 over three years
To design and pilot a place-based program building the next generation of community doers in rural and regional NSW and QLD whilst fostering a stronger and sustainable social sector.
Ongoing
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC)
$100,000 distribution ($500,000 total)
Core operations funding for the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
Culture is Life
$200,000 distribution ($600,000 total)
Strengthening internal measurement and evaluation capability
Ethni Inc.
$150,000 distribution ($540,000 total)
Building Ethni’s organisational capacity and long-term sustainability
The Foundation for Young Australians
$375,000 distribution ($2,000,000 total)
Supporting the Civic and Cultural Engagement Pillar and its two flagship programs - the Young Mayors Program and Student Representative Council
Youth Insearch
$263,469 distribution ($682,000 total)
Core operations funding to measure impact, strengthen diversity and amplify youth voices
Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG)
$375,000 distribution ($750,000 total)
Strengthen DIYDG's financial sustainability
National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN)
$279,940 distribution ($845,000 total)
To embed youth voice in NAPCANs work through their National Youth Speak Out (NYSO) Advisory Council
Shopfront Arts Co-op
$155,000 distribution ($600,000 total)
Supporting the Amplify program that creates the space, place, systems and support for young people to find their own voice
Highlight: Foyer Foundation
(The Lived Experience Board Member program) has helped us stay more grounded in the realities of young people. It’s been incredibly valuable to have a voice on the board that can speak directly to the challenges and needs of our community. This has not only improved our strategies but has also made the work feel more meaningful and impactful."
Ash, Foyer Lived Experience Board Member
The Foyer Foundation exists to grow the reach and impact of Youth Foyers - a safe and stable home where young people aged 16-24 who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness can live for up to two years. Youth Foyers adopt a strengths-based approach to enable young people to thrive, providing wraparound support, including education and employment support, and 1:1 life skills and personal coaching.
The voices and lived experience of young people are embedded in the way the Foyer Foundation makes decisions, creates strategy and advocates for change. By recognising young people as experts in their own lives, Foyer Foundation believes they can create more effective solutions together.
In September 2024, VFFF approved a grant to embed and expand Foyer Foundation’s Youth Engagement Program. This program includes the addition of two Board positions for young people with lived experience of homelessness, as well as the inaugural cohort of Youth Ambassadors who are employed with the organisation and provided with training to build their leadership skills and engage with decision-makers. Five of these Youth Ambassadors travelled to Canberra in February 2025, to meet with Federal politicians to discuss the urgency of the issue of youth homelessness, and advocate for Government investment in 10 new Youth Foyers.
As well as embedding youth voices into its everyday practice, the Foyer Foundation created paid opportunities for more than 25 young people to contribute to the 2025 Foyer Advantage event in May. A highlight of the event was DISRUPT, an art show featuring works by over 30 young artists, each sharing powerful expressions of lived experience and creativity.
In his first year as a VFFF Director, William White, great-grandson of VFFF’s founder Sir Vincent Fairfax, embraced the family’s tradition of supporting organisations driving transformational change. Reflecting on his experience attending DISRUPT, William shared:
“Foyer DISRUPT was an incredibly impactful evening that highlighted the voices and stories of remarkable young people with lived experience of homelessness. What made the event so powerful was that it was inspired by those very young people. It was also a pleasure to speak with members of the Foyer team, whose dedication and passion for youth homelessness were truly inspiring.”