News
Putting young people at the heart
Core to VFFF’s approach to Backing Young People is the belief in the power of hearing directly from young people on the issues that matter to them. That’s why one of the outcomes VFFF seeks in the Contributing to Society focus area is to see more organisations genuinely embedding youth voices in their work.
The power of this approach was on display at The Foyer Foundation event, celebrating 25 years of impact of the Foyer movement in Australia. Held in February in Melbourne, this was an opportunity to bring together the people and organisations that have shaped the movement over the last 25 years, but it also marked a significant milestone for the organisation as Keith Bryant stepped down as Chair and Julie Saunders was welcomed into the role.
In 2024, VFFF provided Foyer Foundation a grant of $850,000 over two years to embed and expand their Youth Engagement Program.
One component of this work is the development of a cohort of Youth Ambassadors, who are employed and trained by Foyer Foundation to advocate to local, state and federal governments on policies relating to youth homelessness, education and employment. These Youth Ambassadors are current and former Accredited Youth Foyer residents with live-experience of homelessness and/or the service system.
Youth Foyers give people aged 16-24 a safe home for up to two years, along with support to learn and work and develop the skills they need to build an independent life.
VFFF’s Lynn Anderson was at the event cheering loudly for the three latest Youth Ambassador recruits, Kd, Sienna and Avie, who so generously and beautifully shared their stories and experience of what residing in a Youth Foyer has meant to them. The Foyer Foundation aims to see 50 quality Youth Foyers supporting 15,000 young people operational by 2030, and when you hear from these Youth Ambassadors, it’s an ambition that’s impossible not to support.
Another highlight from the evening was Foyer Foundation’s Lived Experience Board Member, Kayla Van Der Heyden, guiding attendees through a Recognition of Lived Experience exercise. An extract from Kayla’s exercise is below:
“We recognise those who are here with us tonight - living within a Foyer right now, navigating their journey, and those with lived experience; who carry the history, and the blueprints of what it means to live in a Foyer.
But let's remember, our circle is wider than these walls. To truly honour lived experience, we must hold a space in our hearts for those not yet in the room.
We remember those who do not yet have the positionality, or the fundamental human right to safe housing. We hold those who are still waiting for their sanctuary.
Foyers have been more than just roofs; they have been evidence of what happens when we believe in the dignity of a young person’s future.”
It was a moving and impactful way to kick off a wonderful evening.
Congratulations to Keith on a remarkable tenure of 13 years of service to the Foyer movement and best wishes to Julie as she steps into the Chair role. It is clear Julie is equally as committed to realising a future where young people who experience or are at risk of homelessness go on to live thriving, independent futures.
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