Youth Week 2025 was a vibrant celebration of youth, service and leadership, from 9-17 April. It centred around the theme “We are the future, and the future is now.” The Vinnies Metropolitan Schools Team led impactful activities across Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast. Young people become more empowered to take action and make a difference in their communities. 
 
Blue Mountains: Sparking Change in Katoomba 
 
Youth Week kicked off at the Katoomba Youth Expo. Over 200 students engaged with the Schools Team to learn about the Society’s local impact through the Family Assistance Hub and Conferences.  

The team plans to hold a new Vinnies Expo with Katoomba Public School. The aim was to connect students and families to the Society’s mission and inspire youth-led outreach in the Blue Mountains Council area. 
 
Fairfield: Celebrating Youth Voice and Talent 
 
At Fairfield Council’s Bring It On! Festival, students explored volunteering and creative expression! Local youth learned about the Society’s accompaniment of people we assist on journeys of transformation, through our Conferences, services and programs.  

The event encouraged festival goers to reflect personally on social justice. The opportunity was taken to highlight the Society’s presence in Support Centres and youth-led Conferences. 
 
Cumberland: Youth Homelessness and Community Impact 
 
In Granville, over 120 students participated in Youth Homelessness Matters Day. The youth homelessness event underlined to us and participants just how much the Vinnies Van in Cumberland has become a critical and valued service.  

Plans progressed for a “Busking for Vinnies” partnership in Merrylands and a meeting with Cumberland City Council Mayor, Ola Hamed, to discuss future opportunities… 

“Partnerships like that with Cumberland Council are crucial for launching meaningful initiatives,” Roydon Ng, Metropolitan Schools Engagement Officer, noted. 
 
The Entrance: Building Local Connections 
 
At The Entrance, the team worked with Central Coast Council to connect with local youth, promoting opportunities to join Support Centres and Conferences. These conversations encouraged young people to become future leaders dedicated to social justice. 
 
Castle Hill: Youth Engagement in Action 
 
In Castle Hill, the Society collaborated with The Hills Shire Council’s volunteering program, Hills Youth Army, with our team leading discussions on volunteer pathways. Students were encouraged to join the Society as members or regular volunteers.  
 
We concluded the week in Castle Hill with a powerful call to action: youth are not just the future - they are changemakers today. 
 
Throughout 2025 Youth Week, the Schools Team circulated the uplifting message that youth can lead with purpose and compassion, and we were generously supported throughout by collaboration with members, the Youth Community Engagement team, and the Volunteer Experience team. In this spirit, we are also pleased to share a Youth Week Spiritual Reflection, from our most recent Schools Newsletter. 
 
It was a jam-packed 2025 Youth Week! The Society represented at youth events attended by over 5,000 young people, with the outcome that students from schools across Sydney and Regional NSW had greater opportunity to engage with the Society’s work and mission. 
 
As our focus shifts away from 2025 Youth Week, we’d also like to add our voices to the thanks expressed in the NSW State Youth Committee’s thank you video message. To everyone who supports Vinnies Youth and Schools Teams, and to all our young members and volunteers: Thank you!