We believe in the power ofinspired young people

CONTENTS3 OUR REACH AND BELIEF

4 ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF THE CAUSES

5 OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

6 OUR 2020 ACTION PLAN

7 YMCAS OF AUSTRALIA BELIEF MANIFESTO

YMCA BALLARAT MISSIONThe YMCAs of Australia work together from a base of Christian values to provide opportunities for all people to grow in body, mind and spirit.

VISION With the Y, everyone can be healthier, happier and connected to their community, and help those who are not.

OUR UNITED BELIEFWe believe in the power of inspired young people.

OUR VALUESHonesty. Caring. Responsibility. Respect.

OUR REACH AND BELIEF Regional Victoria is a place of unique opportunity, connection and character. From our base in the heart of Western Victoria, YMCA Ballarat is privileged to work across 45 communities and 14 Local Government Areas with a reach that spans over 1,000 kilometres.

Our experience and research repeatedly tell us that not everyone has the same opportunities in life. The socio-economic disadvantage of poor health and well-being is profound but preventable.

Those who live in regional and remote areas have far higher rates of smoking, heart disease, obesity and disability. There is often less access to quality and affordable childcare, sport and recreation opportunities and mental health services. Unemployment is typically higher in regional areas compared to larger cities.

We are uniquely positioned to impact communities where it is needed most.

We believe we can help correct a health inequity that should not exist. Plan 2020: Belief into Action marries the YMCA Global Areas of Focus of Healthy Living, Empowering Young People and Social Impact with three social determinants of health that will transform local communities and help provide everyone with the best start in life. Our goals and activities are targeted at primary prevention. For maximum impact and lasting change, we will continue to collaborate and innovate with local stakeholders, partners and industry experts.

Our plan is bold. It is highly aspirational. It is ready for execution.

A key to unlocking the health potential of every Victorian lies with our young people and we are proud to present this plan alongside a new belief statement that has united YMCAs across Australia: We believe in the power of inspired young people.

Plan 2020: Belief into Action is a road map to help affect positive change, empower our young people and ensure everyone can be healthier, happier and more connected. Let’s transform regional and remote Victoria, together, so that current inequities no longer exist.

YMCA BALLARAT: OUR REACH

• Youth unemployment

• Mental health and well-being

• Access to quality early childhood education

• Obesity and inactive lifestyles

• Chronic health disease

KEY ISSUES FOR BALLARAT AND REGIONAL VICTORIA:

3Plan 2020: Belief into Action

ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF THE CAUSESThis strategic plan will address root causes of disadvantage, as identified by the World Health Organisation.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTHDefinition:The economic and social conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age… and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.Source: World Health Organisation

We know we can help change lives most powerfully when we address the ‘causes of the causes’ of social disadvantage across Ballarat and Victoria. We have selected three Social Determinants of Health (SDH) relevant to the YMCA to underpin each of our goals so that we can impact communities most effectively.

EDUCATION What it means to the Y: We believe everyone has the right to reach their full potential. Education is the foundation from which we set and achieve our life goals and enables a person to connect with unlimited possibilities. It is also a powerful SDH, as education and health outcomes are intrinsically linked.

EMPLOYMENT What it means to the Y: Helping someone find meaningful employment is not only life-changing for that person but for their entire family and social network. The skills to get and keep a job are vital to disrupt inter-generational disadvantage and enhance the communities we live in.

SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS What it means to the Y: We all crave connection, to belong, to be part of a community. Being socially connected and experiencing the feeling that we belong is a cornerstone of a person’s health, enhancing both mental and physical well-being.

We know we can help change lives most powerfully when we address the ‘causes of the causes’ of disadvantage...

4 Plan 2020: Belief into Action

OUR AREAS OF FOCUS Our plan has embedded YMCA’s globally agreed Areas of Focus which we address locally: healthy living, empowering young people and social impact. Our vision for healthier and happier communities is relevant for each and every person and unique community we impact, with a focus on primary prevention.

We inspire healthy and active living through YMCA services,

connecting everyone in the community to discover the

powerful benefits of healthier and happier lives.

HEALTHY LIVING

We enhance the lives of people and their communities by having a greater impact in areas of need, and by addressing the causes of disadvantage through the power of education, employment and

social connectedness.

SOCIAL IMPACT

We believe in the power of inspired young people. We

believe every child and young person has the right to a happy, healthy and safe childhood full

of opportunity, so that everyone can thrive.

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

EDUCATION

SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS

EMPLOYMENT

YMCA AREAS OF FOCUS

SOCIAL IMPACT

EMPOWERINGYOUNG PEOPLE

HEALTHY LIVING

5Plan 2020: Belief into Action

OUR 2020 ACTION PLANYMCA FOCUS AREA

OUR 2020 GOALSOCIAL

DETERMINANT OF HEALTH

TARGET

HEALTHY LIVING

All Children’s Programs reflect our healthy living philosophy by embedding an identified physical activity or healthy eating program relevant to their local community

Inspire children and adults to get active by doubling our current sport and recreation participation and teach 1,000 children to swim

Develop physical and mental health programs in schools, focusing on building resilience and well-being

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE

Expand ReCranked, our life changing bike recycling program, through additional locations and school partnerships

Enhance youth leadership by connecting regional young people to Victorian Youth Parliament

Establish a Youth Empowerment Centre of Excellence, a hub of youth led learning, leadership and social enterprise

Expand Youth Services Practical Skills Program locations throughout Ballarat

Grow to 60 registered volunteers under the age of 30

SOCIAL IMPACT

Provide more job entry pathways to meaningful employment through The Bridge Project, volunteer opportunities and student placements

Establish Social Impact Measurement Framework

Triple our fundraising efforts in three years

Transform early years quality in regional and remote Victoria through quality targets and local literacy and numeracy programs in Kindergarten and Outside School Hours Care

Social Determinants of Health as defined by the World Health Organisation

EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS

6 Plan 2020: Belief into Action

YMCAS OF AUSTRALIA BELIEF MANIFESTO

What of the future? As we gaze into the years ahead, hoping, dreaming and sometimes despairing. How does the future happen and who is taking us there?

Who has the optimism, talent and spirit to show the way forward?

As a community, no amount of short term brilliance or momentary amazing will tackle the bigger picture of where we’re headed. Nor will those who have had their turn create the sort of questioning needed to change the world.

We know that making a positive difference in the world relies on providing each and every person with a future of opportunity, where we can all be healthy, happy and connected.

But the truth is, we also know a better future depends on the ideas, energy and voice of the group with the most to benefit and the most to lose. Those who will be there when tomorrow comes.

Which is why we stand for young people. We believe that young people always have and always will shape the future. But only when they’re inspired and empowered. We believe young people represent hope. And where there’s hope, there’s possibility.

For us at the YMCA, we believe social impact, health, well-being and positive change in society hinges upon the ability for us to inspire, engage, listen and work with the potential of the young. Put simply, we believe in the power of inspired young people.

Everything else will follow.

We believe in the power of inspired young people.

7Plan 2020: Belief into Action

YMCA Ballarat7 Lyons Street North, Ballarat, Victoria 3350P: 03 5329 2800E: ballarat@ymca.org.auW: www.ballarat.ymca.org.au

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Plan

We believe in the power of inspired young people.

We believe in the power ofinspired young people