The 2026 WA Youth Award finalists have been announced, and we’re proud to share that Our Place Youth Committee (OPYC) has been named a finalist for the Y WA Collective Action Award!
Hosted by the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA), the WA Youth Awards celebrate the incredible contributions and achievements of WA’s young people and youth awards.
The Our Place Committee was nominated for providing a safe place that fosters a sense of community – something critical to the wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ young people, who often experience social exclusion and face discriminatory experiences that can have a marked impact on their mental health.
The positive impact of Our Place is clear in its growth from a safe space drop-in centre to peer mentors, advocacy, events and more. Results from a 2025 capture just how important these spaces are for young people:
- All participants reported a stable-to-positive change in their sense of connection and mental health since attending.
- All reported having friends in the space, and 89% reported making new connections.
- 89% said they always felt comfortable being themselves.
The space is supported by City of Swan, Youth Focus, headspace Midland and RICHARD LOCKWOOD, and while staff and Peer Mentors are present, and ready to provide support, information and resources – at its heart, Our Place is built from the ground up to be genuinely inclusive, guided by the Our Place Committee.
Congratulations to the Our Place Committee for your commitment to creating safe, welcoming spaces where young LGBTQIA+ people feel celebrated.
We are proud to sponsor the Sector Collaboration Award, which shines a light on organisations working together to create innovative initiatives that address the challenges young people face. This Award celebrates youth-sector projects that emerge from collaboration, skill-sharing, and a cross-pollination of ideas between two or more organisations. This year’s finalists are:
- City of Swan Ballajura Youth Outreach Project (BYOP)
- Deal With It.
- Kimberley Connected & Kimberley 9s Carnival
- RightByYou
We look forward to celebrating the finalists at the WA Youth Awards on Friday, 11 September. It’s always a memorable night and an opportunity to connect with the inspiring young people and organisations shaping the youth-sector.
