General
About the YMCA
The YMCA is one of Australia's oldest and most respected not-for-profit organisations, with a history extending over 155 years. In everything that we do, we aim to build strong people, strong families and strong communities.
A community based organisation, the YMCA works with government, non-profit groups and partners to provide programs and services to more than 500,000 Australian every week.
The YMCA is in touch with the needs of communities in which we work, and as an organisation we have the capacity to respond to needs as they arise, at a local, state and national level.
Our programs operate from an assets based approach which identifies and builds on the strengths in people, families and communities.
Everyone is welcome at the YMCA, regardless of faiths, races, ages, abilities and income.
The YMCA of Sydney
The YMCA has been working in Sydney and surrounding communities for more than 150 years. Employing over 500 staff, the YMCA of Sydney owns and / or operates over 20 community and recreation facilities with many more smaller satellite sites delivering specific community needs.
The YMCA of Sydney is directed by a volunteer Board and Executive Management Team. Our Head Office located in Parramatta, serves as a resource Centre for our facilities and programs providing leadership and specialist knowledge in areas including HR, Finance, Marketing, Administration, and OH&S. The YMCA of Sydney also resources smaller YMCA Associations across NSW.
Our Mission
The YMCA of Sydney works from a base of Christian values to provide opportunities for all people to grow in body, mind and spirit.
Our Vision
To be Sydney's most recognised and respected charitable organisation in creating a Healthy, Connected and Spiritual Sydney.
In everything that we do, we aim to build strong people, strong families and strong communities. The YMCA of Sydney achieves this through our 10 key program areas:
- Aquatics
- Camping, Outdoor Education
- Children's Services
- Community Services
- Community Sports Competitions
- Gymnastics
- Health and Fitness
- Programs General
- School PE
- Youth Leadership
YMCA History
In 1844 George Williams, a young drapery merchant was living in London. The 1840's was a tough time, particularly in London. England was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. This period marked a painful time for many workers, and the textile industry was one of the worst hit. Wealth, power and corruption were rife, there was a huge divide between the rich and poor and living conditions were notoriously low. Working conditions, even for young boys and girls, were inhumanly bad. With little free time and no place to go, many young people were lured into gambling, drinking and immoral living.
George Williams, a dedicated Christian made up his mind that something had to be done. He gathered together a few friends to form a society that met regularly and supported each other through the bad times and gain greater spiritual strength. The Group called itself the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). The idea of a YMCA caught on quickly. In no time the Movement had spread across Europe, America and in 1851, arrived in Adelaide Australia.
So influential was the Movement, within 10 years, 38 Associations had been formed across 8 countries. In 1855, 99 Representatives from those 38 Associations met in Paris and founded the International Alliance of YMCAs.
The meeting provided many firsts, including the first international gathering of Christian laymen. The meeting in 1855 inspired the first secretary of the Geneva YMCA, Henry Dunant, to use similar methods to inaugurate the International Red Cross.
In Australia, early settlers founded branches of the London YMCA. The Adelaide branch of the London YMCA opened on the 15th March 1851;
- 1853 - Melbourne and Sydney YMCAs appeared;
- 1854 - Hobart opened;
- 1876 - First 'Inter-Association Conference of the Australian YMCA' was conducted;
- 1877 - 'Inter-Colonial Convention of the Australian and New Zealand YMCA' was formed;
- 1920 - Saw the separation of Australia and New Zealand Associations and the 'National Committee of the YMCAs of Australia' came into being. In 1958, it became known as 'The National Council of YMCAs of Australia' with its offices in Melbourne.
Whilst local needs and communities are at the heart of all YMCA operations, every YMCA is also part of the worldwide YMCA movement, serving more than 45 million people in more than 120 countries. This means that when our help is needed internationally - such as when the Asian Boxing Day Tsunami of 2005 struck - our global connections enable us to support communities in crisis directly and effectively.