Centre for Multicultural Youth

What Centre for Multicultural Youth does

The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation headquartered at 304 Drummond Street, Carlton, founded in 1988 to empower multicultural young people aged 12-25 and shape the systems that influence their lives. CMY operates a portfolio of more than a dozen community programs spanning youth justice diversion (YRIPP, the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program covering 157 police stations across Victoria 24/7, with Victorian Legal Aid and Office of the Public Advocate delivering parallel legal services via the same 1300 number), settlement support (Settling Smarter for newly-arrived youth in Australia under five years), sport-based anti-racism (CMSport, the 'Racism Doesn't Belong In Our Game' campaign with seven state sporting associations), cultural-specific support (Jamma for South Sudanese communities, Le Mana Pasifika for Māori and Pasifika youth), mental health (Reverb 2.0 with headspace National), youth leadership (WYPIN, Youth Advisory Groups, Shout Out speakers agency, Positive Change Makers, Aspire to Lead, Culture Spring youth-led social enterprise), and research engagement (Explore). Programs are delivered through three offices (Carlton HQ, Dandenong, Melton) and via sub-branded initiatives.

CMY earns revenue through three streams: core operational and program-specific funding from the Victorian Government and Australian Government (the dominant stream, evidenced by designated funding for YRIPP, Settling Smarter's SETS program, Jamma's Victorian State Government backing, and the Anti-Racism Strategy); fee-for-service training and program delivery to schools and government buyers (Aspire to Lead at approximately A$15,300 per program through the Victorian Government Schools Mental Health Menu; Positive Change Makers tiered from A$650 per 90-minute session for not-for-profits to A$3,600 per full-day session for corporate buyers); and donations from individuals and organisations. Most youth-facing programs are free or fully subsidised for eligible participants.

The organisation is led by CEO Carmel Guerra OAM and Chairman Bulent Hass Dellal, has 51-100 paid staff plus over 440 volunteers, and operates a Youth Director position on its Board to embed young people's lived experience in governance. CMY holds no patents or proprietary technology, does not offer any public API or software product, and does not pursue external equity funding; its competitive position rests on designated government mandates, embedded community relationships, and a multi-decade operating history rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Centre for Multicultural Youth

Legal name

Centre for Multicultural Youth

Website

https://cmy.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Centre for Multicultural Youth is a Victorian not-for-profit founded in 1988 that delivers youth justice diversion, settlement support, anti-racism, mental health, and leadership programs to multicultural young people aged 12-25 across Carlton, Dandenong, Melton, and statewide Victoria, funded primarily by government grants and supplemented by fee-for-service training and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Community Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

Keywords

• Youth services
• Multicultural support
• Settlement programs
• Youth justice
• Leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CMY receives core operational funding from Victorian Government and Australian Government departments, including specific program funding for initiatives like YRIPP (Victorian Government), Settling Smarter (Australian Government SETS program), and Jamma (Victorian State Government).
2. Program Fees: Some programs generate revenue through fee-for-service arrangements with schools and government, such as Aspire to Lead (approximately $15,300 per program through Mental Health Menu) and Positive Change Makers training sessions ($650-$3600 per session).
3. Donations: CMY accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support programs and services for multicultural young people.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers community-based programs and direct services for multicultural young people aged 12-25 across Victoria, Australia. Its core offerings span youth justice support (YRIPP, TARGET ZER0), settlement assistance (Settling Smarter), leadership and participation programs (WYPIN, YAG, Culture Spring, Shout Out, Positive Change Makers, Aspire to Lead), culturally specific initiatives (Jamma, Le Mana Pasifika), sport-based social change (CMSport), and mental health prevention (Reverb 2.0). CMY also partners with schools, government, sporting bodies, and community organisations to deliver anti-racism education, training, and consultancy services.

Product overview

The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) offers a comprehensive portfolio of youth-focused programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offering consists of community support programs including YRIPP (supporting young people in police custody), CMSport (sport-based social change initiatives), and TARGET ZER0 (youth justice awareness). These are complemented by youth participation programs such as WYPIN, Youth Advisory Groups, Positive Change Makers, and Aspire to Lead, which develop leadership skills. Settlement support is provided through Settling Smarter and employment pathways via Culture Spring. Cultural-specific programs include Le Mana Pasifika for Maori and Pasifika youth and Jamma for South Sudanese communities. Mental health support is delivered through Reverb 2.0 in partnership with headspace. Research engagement is facilitated through the Explore program with trained youth researchers. Shout Out provides public speaking opportunities. CMY also operates under an Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan demonstrating organizational commitment to First Nations communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CMSport: A Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) initiative driving social change through sport.
• Jamma
• Le Mana Pasifika
• WYPIN
• Culture Spring

Products and services

• YRIPP (Youth Referral and Independent Person Program) Provides trained adult volunteer Independent Persons to attend police interviews with young people (particularly those from refugee and migrant backgrounds) in custody across 157 Victorian police stations, available 24/7 via a single telephone number.
• TARGET ZER0 Youth justice awareness initiative delivered in partnership with Westjustice, running community awareness campaigns such as the #RaisedByTheWest billboard campaign to reframe public narratives about young people in Melbourne's West.
• CMSport A CMY initiative that drives social change through sport, delivering anti-racism campaigns including 'Racism Doesn't Belong In Our Game' in partnership with Victorian sporting associations (AFL Victoria, Basketball Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Football Victoria, Netball Victoria, NRL Victoria, Tennis Victoria).
• Settling Smarter Free settlement support program for young people aged 12-25 who have been in Australia five years or less, providing settlement orientation, life skills, education, employment, and health services support. Funded by the Australian Government through the SETS program.
• Jamma Culturally tailored program supporting young South Sudanese people and their families in specified growth-area municipalities through guidance, opportunity, employment and training pathways, personal support and community building.
• Le Mana Pasifika Program strengthening Māori and Pasifika young people aged 12-25 in Victoria through talanoa spaces, cultural identity support, study and career guidance, and school engagement, enabling them to recognise their worth and contribution to community.
• WYPIN (Western Young People's Independent Network) Youth-led group based in Melbourne's West offering active citizenship, personal development and leadership opportunities for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
• Youth Advisory Groups (YAG) CMY's youth advisory mechanism that builds advisory and advocacy skills and gives multicultural young people a formal voice in the organisation's work and on issues important to their communities.
• Culture Spring Youth-led social enterprise and consultancy that bridges organisations and multicultural young people, creating pathways for meaningful participation, leadership and social change.
• Shout Out Public speakers agency that trains and nurtures young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to share their lived experiences with organisations, schools and event audiences.
• Reverb 2.0 Prevention and early intervention mental health initiative co-designed and co-delivered by multicultural young people in partnership with headspace National; delivered to schools and provides culturally responsive professional development to headspace centres. Fully subsidised for schools and students in 2025-2026.
• Aspire to Lead Term-long, strengths-based leadership program for upper primary and secondary students (grades 5-10) experiencing challenges engaging with school, priced at approximately A$15,300 per program through the Victorian Government Schools Mental Health Menu.
• Positive Change Makers (PCM) Experiential, strengths-based training program that develops socially aware young leaders through workshop formats ranging from 90 minutes to full days, priced tiered by session length and organisation type (Not for Profit/Schools vs Government/Corporate).
• Explore Research partnership that trains multicultural young people as youth researchers, enhancing the relevance and responsiveness of research to multicultural youth.
• Youth Transitions Support Sport-based engagement program led by the Brotherhood of St Laurence (with CMY involvement) supporting newly-arrived young people aged 15-25 in the City of Hume, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 157 police stations covered by YRIPP, with trained volunteers attending police interviews 24/7
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• VACSAL (Victorian Aboriginal and Community Legal Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026CMY collaborates with VACSAL as a First Nations partner to ensure cultural safety and self-determination are at the heart of the anti-racism in sport campaign. VACSAL CEO Aunty Linda Bamblett participated in campaign launch.
• AFL VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the 'Racism Doesn't Belong In Our Game' anti-racism campaign, one of seven state sporting associations signed to the landmark Anti-Racism Pledge in 2025.
• Basketball VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, committed to creating welcoming, inclusive sporting environments.
• Cricket VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, one of seven sporting bodies deepening collective commitment to address racism in community sport.
• Football VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, committed to creating culturally safe sporting environments.
• Netball VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, part of collective commitment to address racism in community sport.
• NRL VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, contributing to statewide effort to prevent racism in community sport.
• Tennis VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Victorian sporting association partner in the anti-racism campaign, joining collective commitment to address racism.
• VicsportsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the anti-racism campaign, supporting increased awareness of racism in community sport and reporting pathways.
• VicHealthsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the anti-racism campaign, contributing to social connection and belonging across Victorian communities.
• Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in YRIPP delivery, representing the youth sector and contributing to holistic approach to youth crime prevention.
• Community Legal CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in YRIPP delivery, contributing to holistic approach to youth crime prevention alongside youth, multicultural, and legal stakeholders.
• Victoria PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey operational partner for YRIPP, working with trained Independent Persons to support young people in police custody. Police access YRIPP via single telephone number 1300 79 11 89.
• Victorian Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 24/7 telephone legal advice for young people in police custody through YRIPP, accessible via the same 1300 number used to request Independent Persons.
• Office of the Public AdvocatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Independent Third Persons (ITPs) for people with cognitive impairment through YRIPP, available 24 hours via the same 1300 number.
• WestjusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMY partnership with Westjustice on TARGET ZER0 initiative, launching community awareness campaign '#RaisedByTheWest: Our youth. Our community. Our potential' with donated billboard space from Civic Outdoor and creative direction from Ortolan.
• Civic OutdoorsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated static and digital roadside billboards across Brimbank, Wyndham and Melton for TARGET ZER0 #RaisedByTheWest campaign.
• OrtolanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided pro bono creative direction for TARGET ZER0 #RaisedByTheWest billboard campaign.
• Burnet InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in VOICE (Victorian Ongoing Initiative for Community Engagement), working with CMY and Monash University Action Lab to explore public health needs of multicultural young people during pandemic recovery.
• Monash University Action LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in VOICE initiative, collaborating on COVID-19 pandemic research and engagement with Pasifika young people in south-east Melbourne.
• headspace NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Reverb 2.0 mental health initiative, with CMY delivering culturally responsive professional development to headspace centres to develop understanding of effectively engaging multicultural young people.
• Brotherhood of St LaurencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for Youth Transitions Support program, using sport to engage newly-arrived young people (aged 15-25) in the City of Hume with support from Australian Government Department of Social Services.
• Victoria UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Harmony Youth Summit at Footscray Park campus, supporting young people from North and Western suburbs.
• NRL VicsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit 2024, contributing industry professionals and workshops to support multicultural young people.
• Wyndham Youth ServicessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, providing Youth Development Officer and supporting young people in Wyndham area.
• Les Twentyman FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner in Harmony Youth Summit, supporting young people from multicultural backgrounds.
• University of MelbournesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, contributing to afternoon presentations and career pathway discussions.
• Drummond Street ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, contributing to community support and services for young people.
• CFMEUminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, contributing industry professionals to workshop sessions.
• Monash HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, contributing health sector perspectives and workshops.
• Youth Projects LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Harmony Youth Summit, supporting young people with employment and training services.
• Shooters ShootminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth-led basketball organization founded by Shout Out speaker Sagalee; CMY volunteer assists with admin and event coordination.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Major Australian social justice organisation focused on poverty, disadvantage, and social inclusion, including youth settlement and employment programs. Directly comparable as a multi-program Victorian-based nonprofit serving newly-arrived and disadvantaged youth, and a current CMY partner on the Youth Transitions Support program.
• Settlement Services International (SSI): Large Australian not-for-profit providing settlement, employment, education, and youth services to people from refugee, migrant, and culturally diverse backgrounds. Comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and federal-government funding streams, though operating at greater scale and across multiple states.
• AMES Australia (now part of Multicultural Australia): Major Victorian-based provider of settlement, education, and employment services for migrants and refugees. Comparable in serving newly-arrived populations in Victoria with similar government-contract service models, including AMES' historical dominance of adult English-language and settlement programs.
• Melbourne City Mission: Large Melbourne-based community services organisation delivering youth, family, education, and community programs including services to culturally diverse communities. Comparable as a Victorian multi-program nonprofit with overlapping youth and community-services portfolios.
• Australian Red Cross: Major humanitarian organisation with significant refugee, migrant, and youth programs including the Community Visitors Scheme and settlement support. Comparable as a federally funded multicultural and youth-services provider, though operating at a much larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture): Victorian specialist agency providing services to people from refugee backgrounds who have experienced torture or other traumatic events. Highly comparable in serving refugee and migrant communities in Victoria with casework, advocacy, and capacity-building services.
• Multicultural Youth Advocacy (MYAN): National peak body representing policy and advocacy interests for multicultural young people in Australia. Directly comparable as a youth-focused multicultural advocacy organisation, though operating more on policy/advocacy than direct service delivery.
• YSAS (Youth Support and Advocacy Service): Victorian specialist youth AOD, mental health, and justice services organisation working with vulnerable young people aged 12–25. Comparable in target demographic, Victorian geography, and youth-justice intersection (CMY's YRIPP and TARGET ZER0).

Emerging players

• headspace National: Australia's national youth mental health foundation operating a network of centres for 12–25-year-olds. Directly comparable given CMY's Reverb 2.0 partnership, with overlap in the multicultural youth mental-health segment and joint program delivery.
• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): Victorian Aboriginal-led organisation providing child, family, and community services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Comparable as a Victorian community-services nonprofit with cultural-safety focus and First Nations partnership overlap with CMY's Reconciliation Action Plan.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/likecmy
• Instagraminstagram.com/centre.for.multicultural.youth
• Xx.com/talktocmy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-multicultural-youth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Multicultural Youth