Case Study - Y Careers + Y Queensland
Employer: Y Queensland
Locations: Over 60 OSHC locations (before & after school care) across Southeast Queensland, with the network continuing to grow.
Trainees: 24 trainees with additional roles being recruited
About the Employer
The Y Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation with leading services in childcare, fitness, camping, education, hospitality, youth, recreation and community programs.
As part of the largest global youth movement, reaching almost 65 million people across 120 countries, the Y has a shared purpose: empowering young people.
With over 40 years of experience, Y Queensland is committed to providing high-quality care that fosters learning, growth, and happiness.
Why Y Queensland Chose to Partner with Y Careers
Kellie Perren, Executive Lead – Innovation and Growth at Y Queensland, said:
“Y Careers has built a meaningful partnership that gives young people the opportunity to take their first steps towards a brighter future. It is about far more than earning a qualification. By providing holistic support every step of the way, this partnership empowers young people to grow in confidence, navigate challenges and succeed in their new career path.”
Why the Earn While You Learn program is so valuable
For Young People
The Y Careers program provides each trainee with personalised career coaching and the opportunity to earn while they learn, completing a Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care. This structured support helps participants develop practical skills, confidence, and a clear pathway to long-term success in the education and care sector.
For Employers
Partnering with Y Careers gives employers access to a dedicated talent pipeline for the education and care sector. This approach reduces recruitment time and significantly lowers talent acquisition costs, while supporting the development of entry-level staff.
Trainees split their time between formal study and the workplace, allowing employers to shape how learning is applied in real time. This ensures trainees are aligned with your organisation’s processes, tools, and culture from day one.
What makes the Y Careers program different
Y Careers understands young people and provides a full ecosystem of support to set them up for success. Each trainee is paired with a dedicated Career Coach who offers ongoing guidance, goal setting, and access to micro-credentials that build essential soft skills. Workplace supervisors also receive support, resources, and training to help them confidently guide and support new trainees.
Young people are carefully prepared and sourced to ensure they’re job-ready and motivated from day one. Employers benefit from streamlined onboarding, clear communication, and a partnership model that strengthens workforce capability.
What our employer partner thinks of the program
Kellie Perren, Executive Lead - Innovation and Growth at Y Queensland believes, “the trainees who have joined our organisation have come with an incredible eagerness to learn and a genuine desire to engage. That speaks volumes about the Y Careers team and the strength of their recruitment and onboarding process, which helps ensure every young person feels equipped, confident and ready to take the next step in their life.”
What the supervisors say about their trainees
“Our trainee has had an excellent first week back in Vacation Care. She is an absolute gun — she actively engages with children, consistently involves herself in activities, and demonstrates strong educator practice across the program. She has been confidently running activities and has grown so much in such a short period of time.
“The trainees increased confidence, particularly in supporting children experiencing heightened emotions, has been really noticeable. She is a strong presence on site, and we genuinely notice the difference when she is not here. She has been a great asset to the team, and we’re really proud of the progress she’s made.”
Impact
As values-aligned organisations and both part of the Y Australia family, this partnership strengthens the OSHC sector by building sustainable workforce pipelines. Together, we support OSHC providers to attract, train and retain passionate emerging educators, reducing staffing pressure, strengthening compliance capability, and investing in the long-term stability of local school communities.
Discover how we can support your workforce.
Partner with Y Careers to build a supported, job-ready team just like BPA Children’s Services. Reach out to our partnerships team today:
👉 Michael Oosterwyk
National Partnerships Manager
[email protected]
👉 Andrew Murray
Business Development Manager
[email protected]