Young Achievement Australia

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What is it?

Established in 1977
Affiliated internationally with Junior Achievement operations in over 100 countries
Around 50% of YAA programmes are delivered in non-metropolitan regions
YAA programmes link education with business to provide young people with skills and knowledge to better equip them for their future working lives.
Student demand continually outstrips available places, despite a more than 50% increase in participation over the last three years.
Aims to develop business enterprise skills, capacities and understanding in young Australians through partnerships with business, education and the community
Aims to provide access to vital business enterprise programmes for young people regardless of location, circumstances, curricula choice, career plans or academic strengths
Supported by an extensive website of information
State and regional managers look after:

Recruiting and training mentors
Securing programme sponsorships
Establishing and monitoring student co-operatives

More than 115 000 young Australians have participated in YAA programmes
Each year YAA reaches over 2000 schools, teachers and principals, and more than 25 000 parents.

How do I find it?

Young Achievement Australia
National Office
Street: Level 5, 33 Bligh St, SYDNEY, NSW 1044
Postal: GPO Box 3800, SYDNEY, NSW 1044
Phone: 02 9232 3088
Fax: 02 9223 3725
http://www.yaa.org.au/

State contacts can be found on the website.

Who runs it?

YAA is an independent non-government not-for-profit organisation administered by a board of trustees
YAA generate over $2.2 million in sponsorships and donations annually.
YAA are sponsored by over 900 corporate sponsors and nearly 2,000 business mentors.
Principal national sponsors include:
1. Australian Business
2. BHP Billiton
3. IBM Australia
4. The Queensland Government: State Development (sponsorship programmes to be run primarily in regional and rural Queensland)
5. Small Business Victoria
6. Westpac Banking Corporation
7. The Westpac Foundation
8. Department of Community Development - Youth Affairs, Government of WA
YAA relies heavily on the commitment of volunteer mentors from sponsoring organisations. These individuals (many of whom are also ex-YAA participants) assist young people through the programme. They give freely of their time, experience and even workplace facilities

How much will it cost?

YAA programmes are free of charge to participants. However, as shareholders in the company, each student is required to buy at least one $2 share.

What's in it for the students?

General skills

First-hand insights into the workings of private enterprise and industry
Skills in enterprise - decision-making, negotiating, creativity
Skills in entrepreneurship - being innovative, developing strategies, dealing with risk and setting and achieving goals
Experience in managing finances and thinking critically
The chance to exchange business plans and ideas with students in other countries
Insight into how differences in culture are reflected in the way people do business
An understanding of the importance of information technology and practical IT skills
Opportunities to exercise responsibility and initiative
Social and business networking opportunities
Gain knowledge and experience for more informed career decisions
A range of practical skills
Interaction with positive business role models
Hands on experience for the development of business competencies
Improved skills in team work, communication, decision making, planning and time management
Developing leadership and presentation skills
A sense of achievement, pride and self confidence
Meeting and making new friends
A recognised qualification in small business management
More likelihood of gaining employment in an increasingly competitive workplace.

Awards

The programme culminates in the presentation of the prestigious YAA Student Business Person of the Year, Company of the Year and other Awards. National awards include:

IBM Business Person of the Year
Elders Business Plan Award
Aspect Company of the Year
IBM e-Commerce Award
Rothschild Annual Report Award
Collex Environmental Management Award
James Fielding Investments Innovative Product or Service Award
Hagemeyer Best Marketing Innovation Award
Media Sales Network Media Promotion Award
AGL Australian Business Limited Special Performance Award
National Community Value Award
YAA Enterprising School and Community Award

There are also numerous state awards available.

What do students need to do?

Students experience all stages of a concentrated business cycle. They must take responsibility for all essential business processes including:
- Selling shares to raise capital
- Establishing the company
- Electing an executive management team
- Researching, designing and producing goods or services
- Planning and implementing quality systems in finance, manufacturing, human resources and marketing
- Preparing business plans and an annual report
- Liquidating and paying dividends to shareholders at the end of the programme
- Participate Trade Fairs, Management Skills Seminars, and an optional four day National Convention.

What types of programme are available?

YAA Business Skills programme

Runs over 16-24 weeks
Involves 12-25 senior secondary students with three to five advisers from business and industry.
Operates throughout Australia in regional and rural locations as well as the major towns and cities.
VETAB accredited
Cross-disciplinary
Aligned with the Small Business Management Competency Standards to ensure that students cover the skills and knowledge that underpin real-world commercial success.

YAA Business Alive Programme and Business Enterprise Programmes

Develops the enterprising capacities of year 9 and 10 students by introducing them to the world of business.
Designed to ensure that the students see the relationship between school and their working lives.
Includes a student booklet, teacher handbook, Vocational Education Initiative material for each state and Outside Business Mentors.

Travel and Tourism Business Programme (TTBiz)

TTBiz is a new and exciting Travel and Tourism business programme
Encourages entrepreneurship and small business development within Travel and Tourism
Teaches students how to design and manage their own service business focusing on local and global travel and tourism
Interactive, computer-based educational programme
Students can interact with other TTBiz classes around the world.
Teachers, instructors, volunteer advisers and students are guided step by step via the TTBiz web site. The programme is flexible, easy to use and primarily student driven.
5 to 30 students
A total of 20 weeks
Incorporates in-class sessions, on-line computer work, fieldwork and research.
Promotes links between students and industry volunteers who participate as local market and industry advisers.

How are the prizes awarded?

An overview of each award including Information regarding eligibility and judging criteria is available on the website

What's in it for teachers?

A paper presented by Mr John Breen, B.Com, M.Ed, presented to the SEAANZ Conference in Melbourne in May 1999 identifies the YAA Business Skills programme as "an example of best practice in the delivery of enterprise education".

For teachers YAA provides:

Awards to provide support for teachers of science and to foster innovation, creativity and a love of science.
Teachers can concentrate on other areas of curricula in the classroom knowing that their students are getting direct, applicable practical learning in YAA programmes.
Introduces business and life skills across all curriculum areas
Provides the opportunity for schools to strengthen their links with local business
Compliments the Vocational Education objectives currently outlined in State Education system
A well structured teacher handbook and student workbook
Promotion of internal communications thanks to the cross curriculum programme
Develops/promotes innovation within the school and wider community
Compliments concepts covered within the Year 9 Commerce curriculum eg: use of technology
Encourages leadership
Promotes key competencies
Offers a practical resource
Engenders professional/personal development
Supports classroom studies with hands-on experience
Networking opportunities

What's involved for mentors?

The benefits of becoming a YAA Business Consultant or Mentor include:

Corporate Recognition
Professional/Personal Development
Support youth business development
Personal satisfaction Developing your mentoring and team leadership skills
An opportunity to enhance your organisations corporate image by supporting the local community
Opportunities to increase your group presentation skills
Broadening your understanding of whole company operations
Developing general management skills and understanding
Recognition in your workplace
Your support in the development and know-how of Australia's future work force. You are enabling the students of your region to improve their awareness of business issues
Your own skills base will increase as you mentor the team through the process of operating a company from its inception to liquidation
Great opportunities for networking and socialising Mentor Time Commitment
Approx. 2 - 3 hours per week, including weekly student meeting usually between 4:00 and 6:00 pm on the day of your choice
From around 16 - 24 weeks between March and October

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