Young parents amplify their voices through Brave Foundation & Minderoo Foundation’s three-year partnership.
The Brave Foundation and the Minderoo Foundation have joined forces in a three-year collaboration to empower young parents across Australia. The aptly named “Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Future” project aims to amplify the voices of young parents and ensure they are at the forefront of national conversations regarding the issues that affect them and their children.
This initiative highlights the importance of lived experience in informing positive change. “This partnership represents a powerful alignment of vision,” said Jill Roche, CEO of Brave Foundation. “Together, we are championing the value of local knowledge and lived experience to foster sustainable change,” she added. Ms Roche emphasised that this collaboration will ensure young parents across Australia are heard, placing them at the centre of decision-making processes that impact their lives and communities.
The Minderoo Foundation echoed this sentiment. Ana Nieto, Director of Early Years at the Minderoo Foundation, expressed her delight in partnering with Brave. “Like all parents, young parents are brimming with potential and life experience, and they want the best for their children,” Ms Nieto said. “Unfortunately, their voices are often overlooked in policy debates.”
The “Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Future” project will directly involve young parents in key roles within the Brave Foundation. It will also see a significant expansion of the Empowering the Voices of Young Parents (EVYP) advisory group. Additionally, young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents will explore the formation of a First Nations youth advisory group.
By investing in research and evaluation, the Brave Foundation will gain deeper insights and use these to exchange knowledge and ideas with the government and other organisations. This will foster a better understanding of what works best for young parent families within their communities.
Sophie, a young parent and member of the EVYP advisory group, spoke about the positive impact of the group. “The sense of community is a recurring theme in all EVYP meetings,” she said. “Differing opinions are always respected, and all voices are heard.” Sophie highlighted the open dialogue that creates a safe space for young parents to advocate for their families and make a positive impact.
The Brave Foundation will leverage the “Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Future” project to advocate for a system that provides young parents with the tailored support they require. “By contributing to capacity building of peer organisations and strengthening the connection between the government and young parents, we can ensure future generations have the opportunity to thrive,” said Ms Roche. She emphasised the importance of young parents seeing themselves represented in this work and understanding that their voices are driving meaningful change.
This partnership marks a significant step for the Brave Foundation’s new 2025-2030 strategy, which envisions a future where every young parent and child flourishes. “Our approach has matured significantly in recent years,” said Ms Roche. “We have built upon our core mission and impact, ensuring lived experience remains central to everything we do. Brave’s strategy will transform us into a Centre of Excellence for Young Parents.”
“Excellence, to us, means actively listening to young parents, continuously improving our programs, and sharing our knowledge through advocacy and policy work,” Ms Roche continued. “Brave’s vision is a future where every young parent and child thrives and feels like they belong. This vision cannot be achieved by Brave alone. Together with the Minderoo Foundation, we are committed to building a brighter, more inclusive Australia for young families.”
The Brave Foundation encourages young parents to visit their website and social media channels for opportunities to get involved in this impactful initiative.
Also read: New trial protects First Nations families from violence
Milton writes as both an occupation and a hazard. He also works on the newsletters you see on Tuesday and Thursday with articles you should find interesting.
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