Young Endeavour Youth Scheme

What Young Endeavour Youth Scheme does

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme is a not-for-profit organization established in 1988 that administers the Young Endeavour Youth Development Program on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia. The scheme delivers 11-day youth development voyages aboard STS Young Endeavour, a 44-metre purpose-built brigantine (two-masted square-rigged sailing ship) with steel hull, aluminium masts, and teak deck, equipped with modern navigation, communication, and safety systems. The program targets Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 16-23, delivering experiential learning in sailing, navigation, leadership, and teamwork through activities including 30-metre mast climbing and a 24-hour youth-led "Command Day." Crewed and maintained by Royal Australian Navy personnel under the Australian White Ensign, the ship rotates through ports along the Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Western Australia coastlines.

Revenue mechanics combine a per-participant voyage fee of $2,200 AUD (with financially assisted berths from $650), Australian Government operational support, community donations, and corporate/community scholarship funding. Berths are allocated through a twice-yearly random ballot, with scholarship partners able to nominate candidates who bypass the lottery. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, email newsletter), open days at ports, and a volunteer alumni ambassador network speaking at schools and community groups. A replacement vessel, a barquentine rig designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and constructed by Birdon in Port Macquarie, NSW, is in development with a three-year build timeline; it will accommodate up to 42 youth per voyage (a 75% capacity increase) with a 30-year operational life. Governance is provided by an independent Advisory Board appointed by the Australian Government, with the Governor-General serving as Patron.

Name

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme

Legal name

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme

Website

https://youngendeavour.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme is a non-profit organization operating STS Young Endeavour, a 44-metre brigantine delivering 11-day youth development voyages for Australians aged 16-23 through Royal Australian Navy partnership since 1988.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Sail Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Youth sail training
• Maritime youth development
• Experiential learning voyages
• Adventure leadership programs
• Navy youth program

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney, New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Voyage Fees: Primary revenue stream from 11-day youth development voyages at $2,200 AUD per participant. Includes accommodation, chef-cooked meals, kit bag, voyage handbook, crew shirt, hat, water bottle, and sailing gloves.
2. Government Funding: Australian Government funds the acquisition of replacement vessel and operational support. Royal Australian Navy operates and crews the ship on behalf of the Commonwealth.
3. Donations and Scholarships: Community donations support the scheme. Businesses and organisations fund scholarships for eligible youth to participate in voyages.
4. Souvenir Sales: Online shop selling Young Endeavour merchandise including apparel and memorabilia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme operates an 11-day Youth Development Voyage aboard the Royal Australian Navy-crewed square-rigged sailing ship STS Young Endeavour for Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 16-23. The program combines sailing skills (navigation, helm, sail handling), 30-metre mast climbing, galley duties and a 24-hour youth-led Command Day to build confidence, teamwork, leadership and communication. Supplementary offerings include Community Day Sails for youth with disability, Financial Assistance Berths for Centrelink recipients (minimum $650), and Scholarship Berths funded by partner organisations.

Product overview

The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme operates a single unified youth development program centered on 11-day sailing voyages aboard STS Young Endeavour, a 44-meter brigantine purpose-built for sail training. The core product—the Youth Development Voyage—is designed for Australians aged 16-23 and focuses on building confidence, resilience, leadership, and teamwork skills through experiential learning at sea. The program is delivered by Royal Australian Navy personnel and includes activities such as sailing, navigation, mast climbing, and Command Day (24-hour youth-led ship operation). Supplementary offerings include Community Day Sails for youth with disability, Financial Assistance Berths for Centrelink recipients, and Scholarship Berths through partner organisations. A replacement vessel (barquentine rig, 42-crew capacity) is currently under development with Australian shipbuilder Birdon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Development Voyage An 11-day youth development voyage aboard STS Young Endeavour for Australians aged 16-23, delivering experiential learning focused on confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership and communication through sailing, navigation, 30-metre mast climbing, and a 24-hour youth-led Command Day. Includes accommodation, chef-cooked meals, kit bag, voyage handbook, crew shirt, hat, water bottle and sailing gloves.
• Community Day Sails Shorter sailing experiences provided for young Australians who are unable to undertake a full 11-day voyage, often involving youth with disability, allowing participants to share skills learned during youth development voyages.
• Financial Assistance Berth Reduced-cost 11-day Youth Development Voyage berth at a minimum of $650 AUD, available to eligible youth aged 16-23 receiving qualifying Centrelink benefits. Applicants must request financial assistance during initial application.
• Scholarship Berth Voyage berth funded through partnerships with businesses, not-for-profits and community organisations, enabling nominated young Australians to bypass the ballot and participate in the Youth Development Voyage, subject to eligibility criteria.
• Young Endeavour Souvenir Merchandise Online shop selling Young Endeavour branded apparel and memorabilia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ youth have completed the program since 1988
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BirdoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2023Australian shipbuilder contracted to construct the replacement vessel for STS Young Endeavour at their facility in Port Macquarie, NSW. Birdon has responsibility for design, engineering, and integration of all vessel systems including mechanical, electrical, propulsion, communication and navigation.
• Dykstra Naval ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch naval architecture firm responsible for the core vessel design of the replacement ship. The new vessel will be a state-of-the-art barquentine rig design.
• Royal Australian NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavy operates, maintains and crews STS Young Endeavour on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia. Professional Navy personnel deliver the youth development program and will continue to operate the replacement vessel under the Australian White Ensign.
• Duke of Edinburgh's AwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing voyage participation to count towards Duke of Edinburgh's Award requirements, providing additional credential for youth participants.
• Community Scholarship PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarious businesses, not-for-profits and community organisations provide scholarships enabling diverse youth to participate. These partners bypass the ballot and can place candidates of their choice on voyages.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sail Training International: The international umbrella body representing sail training operators globally; YEYS is internationally recognised within its membership, making it a comparable broad incumbent in the same youth sail training category.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): A large US-based outdoor education organization delivering wilderness leadership expeditions for youth and young adults, comparable as an established experiential learning provider with strong brand recognition and program accreditation.

Direct peers

• Australian Outward Bound Development: Australia's leading outdoor experiential education provider for young people, running multi-day adventure-based programs targeting similar personal development outcomes (resilience, leadership, teamwork) for comparable youth segments.
• Spirit of Adventure Trust: A New Zealand not-for-profit that runs youth development voyages aboard a tall ship for similar age cohorts (16-19), with a comparable sail training model, government backing, and lottery/scholarship access pathways.
• The Tall Ships Youth Trust: UK-based charity operating two tall ships delivering personal development voyages for young people aged 12-25, with a near-identical experiential learning, sail training, and bursary-funded model.
• Class Afloat: Canadian sail training operator running semester-long youth voyages aboard a tall ship combining seamanship with academic education, directly comparable to YEYS's experiential learning model on a square-rigged vessel.

Regional players

• Windeward Bound: Sydney-based tall ship operating youth voyages and adventure sails in Australian waters, comparable as a regional sail training provider serving overlapping Australian youth audiences with similar experiential programming.

Others

• Birdon: Australian shipbuilder contracted to construct the YEYS replacement vessel, comparable as a strategic industrial partner and adjacent maritime services provider in the YEYS supply chain.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Australia): Australian operator of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program — a YEYS partnership counterparty that integrates voyage participation as a credentialed activity for the same 14-24 youth segment, comparable as an adjacent youth development ecosystem participant.
• Royal New Zealand Navy - Aotearoa: New Zealand's naval service operating youth sail training ship HMNZS Aotearoa-era programs; comparable as a peer government/defense-backed maritime youth training ecosystem adjacent to YEYS's Royal Australian Navy partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/youngendeavour1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgK4ykQW4IOeGK4F7b_AtaA
• Facebookfacebook.com/YoungEndeavour
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/young-endeavour
• Instagraminstagram.com/young_endeavour

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Young Endeavour Youth Scheme