Evolution of the Y (formerly YMCA)

The Y (formerly YMCA) has been effectively operating and making a significant contribution in local communities across Australia since 1851. However, its humble beginnings began in old London town in 1844.

The Y was founded by a drapery merchant, George Williams, during the Industrial Revolution and a time of great despair and poverty. It was Williams who decided that something had to be done to improve the well-being and futures of our young men.

He gathered a few friends to form a society that met regularly to support each other and gain renewed strength in body, mind, and spirit. The group called itself the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).

From its inception through to the early 1900s, the organisation focused on the welfare of young men and related social concerns.

In time, Williams and the other founding members began organising branches throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. Over the following decade, YMCA movements began to develop across Western Europe, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Today, the Y associations and branches can be found all over the world.

1902 marked the official opening of the YMCA association in Western Australia, based in the Eastern Goldfields. Perth soon followed suit with its first association officially formed in 1908, after receiving a donation of land on Murray Street in the city.

Throughout its history, YMCA Perth has focussed on working with young people through activities such as sports, camps, arts, leadership programs and services such as youth work and youth hostels.

In 2019, YMCA proudly announced a rebrand to ‘the Y’ as part of a national brand and logo refresh for the first time in Australia in 52 years. Governors of the 15 individual YMCAs across Australia came together to endorse the new brand change, and the YMCA WA became the Y WA.

Thus, the movement evolved to become a far more inclusive organisation that supports everyone, regardless of age, gender, religion, sexuality, or difference. This change in focus has been a hallmark of the Y’s DNA since its inception. The Y exists to respond to the changing needs of young people, and, as times and generations change, the Y has evolved and adopted to suit.

The fresh new logo was developed by a collective of the Y brand leads across Australia and pays tribute to the brand’s heritage by retaining the triangle elements of the Y’s ‘Body Mind Spirit’ mission. The new name reflects the legacy of celebrating and supporting diversity within all communities.

To contemporise their mission, and interpret it with some academic rigour, the Y WA has drawn on the field of positive psychology to adopt a social impact strategy that revolves around the concept of Human Flourishing. In all programs and services, the Y strive to deliver on four outcomes that contribute to flourishing- belonging, competence, independence and connectedness.

The Y WA’s longest serving board member, Bruce Porter, said, “The Y has come a long way in its 175 plus years and we are proud to say it is the oldest and most respected youth organisation in the world, with a reach of 58 million people globally. Our mission work is grounded in providing relevant and powerful youth services for young people to flourish and to ensure every young person has a voice.”

Today, the Y is a vibrant community organisation focused on delivering flourishing outcomes for all young people, recognising the importance of a complete education.

The Y focusses specifically on youth services and programs including a vocational school, children’s services (early learning, OSHC, family day care), recreation (swimming, gyms) and community services and programs.

Annually, the Y WA delivers around 200 services, with almost 3 million participations in over 50 communities. They operate over 40 children’s services, over 20 youth services and programs, and manage two recreation centres.

Much like George Williams back in 1844, the Y WA’s focus remains on delivering flourishing outcomes for young people across the state.