Australian Youth Affairs Coalition

What Australian Youth Affairs Coalition does

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) is a registered Australian non-profit and the federally recognized national peak body representing young people aged 12-26 and the youth and community sector organisations that support them. Founded in 2013 and based in Melbourne, AYAC operates a $1.53 million AUD budget (2023-2026) with 51-100 employees to deliver youth engagement, sector support, and policy work. Its core products are the Youth Brains Trust (a collective of 1,200+ young people aged 12-26 used for consultation and participation), three free membership tiers (Youth, Individual, Organisation), and the National Youth Practitioners Network.

AYAC generates revenue through three streams: a multi-year federal government grant, fee-for-service training and consultation (Governance Training, Media/Advocacy & Impact Storytelling, Youth Consultation, Co-design, Governance and Young People, Consultations, Policy/Research & Advice, and Project Work), and a free membership model with no subscription fees. The organisation's customer base spans government clients (Youth Cancer Service, eSafety Youth Council Support team), non-profits (Reset.Tech), and the general Australian youth sector, with 3,400+ members and subscribers and engagement with thousands of young people annually. Its primary outputs are policy publications, government submissions, and media releases on issues affecting young Australians including cost of living, housing, employment, education, and youth justice.

The organisation's operating model is community-led, relying on a distributed network of young people, sector professionals, and partner organisations rather than a proprietary technology platform. Key strategic risks include the June 2026 cessation of federal government funding, which removed the primary revenue stream and triggered active advocacy for restoration. AYAC is led by CEO Joanna Siejka Rostami (appointed September 2023) and governed by a Board under Luca Walsh as Deputy Chair.

Name

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition

Legal name

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition

Website

https://ayac.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) is the federally recognized Australian non-profit peak body representing young people aged 12-26 and the youth sector, delivering youth engagement, policy advocacy, and fee-for-service training from Melbourne with 51-100 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Advocacy and Engagement Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth advocacy services
• Youth engagement training
• Policy research publications
• Nonprofit consulting services
• Youth consultation facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: AYAC transitioned from reliance on government funding to securing a $1.53 million budget for 2023-2026 to support youth engagement initiatives. Federal Government funding was ceased in June 2026.
2. Fee-for-Service Training and Services: AYAC offers a range of fee-for-service options tailored to meet the needs of young people, organisations and government seeking to enhance their engagement with young people. Services include training workshops, youth consultation, sector support, and policy research.
3. Membership: Membership is currently free, offering opportunities to join a national community and stay informed about AYAC's work and upcoming membership opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) is the national peak body for young people aged 12-26 in Australia, delivering youth advocacy, engagement, sector support, and policy work. It provides fee-for-service training and consultation to organisations and government seeking to enhance youth participation, runs the Youth Brains Trust collective of 1,200+ young people, and offers free membership across youth, individual, and organisation tiers.

Product overview

AYAC operates as a national peak body providing a portfolio of programs and fee-for-service offerings rather than a unified software platform. The core products include the Youth Brains Trust (a collective of 1,200+ young people aged 12-26), three membership types (Youth, Individual, and Organisation), and the National Youth Practitioners Network with its NYPN Briefing. The training and services arm offers fee-for-service options including Governance Training, Media/Advocacy & Impact Storytelling Training, Youth Consultation services, Governance and Young People Training, Co-design Training, Consultations, Policy/Research & Advice, and Project Work. Policy outputs include Publications (reports and research), Submissions (government inquiry responses), and Media Releases. Additional programs include the You Ask The Questions! civic engagement initiative and the Spotlight Series. Membership is free and provides access to events, trainings, and policy briefings through a members-only mailing list.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Brains Trust (YBT): A collective of more than 1200 young people from across Australia, established in response to increasing demand for greater youth engagement. The YBT enables AYAC to inform young individuals about upcoming opportunities and ensures their voices are valued in AYAC's decision-making processes.

Products and services

• Governance Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Engages with thousands of young people annually through consultation, engagement, research and advocacy work

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Australian Child Rights Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025AYAC endorsed Australian Child Rights Task Force's submission to the Senate Inquiry into Youth Justice and Incarceration System as a member of their policy working group.
• Youth Affairs Peak Bodies Australia-widecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024Joint letter with youth affairs peak bodies across Australia urging government action to raise the rate of Job Seeker and Youth Allowance in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
• Reconciliation AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2023Launched 'Yarn About Youth' initiative to explore reconciliation progress with young people.
• Academy of the Social Sciences in AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth policy research and publications, including the 'Shaping the Future: A new approach to policy that works for young people' report.
• Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth policy research and publications, working together on policy initiatives affecting young Australians.
• eSafety CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for consultations with children and young people on the social media minimum age, producing a summary report on findings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: One of Australia's largest community service organisations serving people experiencing hardship, including a major youth homelessness and employment portfolio. Comparable as a large non-profit working on youth policy and services, though operating as a direct service provider.
• headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): Australia's national youth mental health foundation providing direct services and policy work for young people aged 12-25. Comparable in target demographic and national reach, though focused on mental health rather than general youth affairs.
• Australian Council of Social Service: National peak body for the community and social services sector in Australia. Comparable to AYAC as a peak advocacy body conducting policy submissions, member services, and government engagement on behalf of constituents.

Direct peers

• Youth Action: NSW peak body for young people and the youth sector, providing policy advocacy, training, and youth participation programs. Directly comparable to AYAC as a state-level peak body operating the same model of advocacy, training, and sector support.
• Foundation for Young Australians: Major Australian non-profit focused on young people aged 12-25, conducting research, policy advocacy, and programs on youth employment, education, and voice. Directly comparable to AYAC as a national youth-focused advocacy and research organisation.
• Youth Affairs Council of Victoria: Victorian peak body for young people aged 12-25 and the youth sector. Closely mirrors AYAC's service portfolio (advocacy, training, sector support, youth participation) at a state level.
• CREATE Foundation: National Australian advocacy body representing children and young people with out-of-home care experience. Comparable to AYAC in its peak-body advocacy role, children/youth focus, and policy submission work.
• YWCA Australia: National women's and young women's advocacy and service organisation with member associations. Comparable to AYAC as a national federation-style non-profit providing advocacy, training, and sector support.

Others

• Australian Human Rights Commission: Federal statutory agency responsible for human rights advocacy, including child rights through the National Children's Commissioner. Comparable as an institutional advocate producing submissions and policy research, though operating as a government body rather than NGO.

Emerging players

• Orygen: Australia's centre of excellence in youth mental health, conducting translational research, clinical innovation, and policy work focused on young people aged 12-25. Comparable in youth-focused research and advocacy, though specialised in mental health.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AYACAustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Australian Youth Affairs Coalition