YEAR IN REVIEW

A significant highlight was the continuation of our expansion into South Australia with the establishment of new headspace services in Port Lincoln and Gawler. These centres ensure young people in regional communities have access to safe, evidence-based, and localised care. In Queensland, our Supported Independent Living services expanded in Moreton Bay, creating new pathways for young people to build practical life skills, achieve age-appropriate goals and continue their journey to independence.

We also opened our new head office, informally referred to as YouHub @ Maud. More than a workplace, it has become a space for collaboration, innovation, and culture-building. Already, it has strengthened engagement across teams and partners, reflecting our commitment to working together with purpose. That engagement was reflected in our company survey, with our score lifting to 76%, three points higher than last year, and now six points above the national average.

This was also a year of organisational renewal. We welcomed Nicholas Dwyer as Chief Operating Officer and established a new Operations team to bring sharper focus and alignment across service delivery and support functions. We launched our inaugural Staff Awards, celebrated leadership capability through new development programs, and enhanced recruitment and onboarding with platforms such as ELMO and Culture Amp.

Program innovation was another hallmark. StandBy Support After Suicide released its Lived Experience Framework and formalised
the National Postvention Leadership Group, strengthening its national leadership and amplifying lived experience in postvention practice. Our $1 million partnership with Global Health will see MasterCare Plus rolled out across all clinical services, part of a broader IT Roadmap that is enabling our staff to focus on what matters most: the people we support.

We also deepened our cultural learning journey, welcoming Youturn’s inaugural Cultural Advisor and embedding the principles of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan into policies, procedures, and practice. These steps are small but important markers of the future we are building: one that is inclusive, respectful, and connected to community.

Externally, pressures on families and individuals have continued to grow. Rising cost-of-living expenses and a tight labour market have stretched households and service systems alike. Yet there were also hopeful signals, with the returning government committing $1.1 billion to expand and enhance mental health supports through headspace, Medicare Mental Health Centres, and establishment of Youth Specialist Care Centres.

Amidst these challenges and opportunities, Youturn has remained anchored in its purpose. We have expanded our reach, strengthened our systems, and invested in our people; all while establishing the foundations for systemic outcomes measurement.

This year reminds us that charting a course is not about speed, but direction. With our new strategy in place, we are navigating with clarity, confidence, and care, working each day to empower people to live safe, connected, and meaningful lives.