YEAH
Founded in March 2005, YEAH is an Australian youth driven health promotion organisation supporting young people to take control of their sexual health.
Contact Us
YEAH’s work would not be possible without the support of:
YEAH runs three main programs funded by the Commonwealth Government that are designed to empower young people aged 15-29 and those who work with young people to led and take action in preventing the spread of HIV and other STIs:
Agents of YEAH
A sexual health peer education training and leadership program
Red Aware Events
Supporting young people to run their own sexual health awareness events in their local communities
Resources
Providing educational tools and materials to support young people and those who work with them to improve sexual health knowledge and awareness.
In the past 3 years Australia has seen a 20% increase in the rate of STIs diagnosed amongst people aged 15-29.
With more than three quarters of nationally reported STIs occurring amongst young people, YEAH is committed to finding ways to engage young people to lead a new wave of sexual health awareness amongst their peers.
YEAH supports policy and peer-based programs that put young people’s leadership at the center of Australia’s national response to youth sexual health.
Our Commitment
Maintaining good governance and a team approach.
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Running programs that directly target young people aged 15-29 and indirectly target young people through education and youth sectors.
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Work to increase investment in policy and peer-based programs that put young people’s leadership at the centre of our national response.
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Engage with and educate stakeholders including Government, Donors, Sponsors, and industry and sector partners.
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Investin marketing and public relations to maintain relevance and visibility of HIV and youth sexual health amongst the general public and specifically amongst young people.
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Evaluate our programs and activities to contribute to evidence based research.
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Provide a feedback cycle for young people to drive the direction of YEAHs work.
Mission
‘Empowering young Australians to prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs through participation and leadership.’
Vision
‘That every young Australian has the knowledge, tools and support to prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs.’
Principles that guide YEAH
–Youth participation
–Promoting leadership
–Education through dialogue
–Contributing to HIV and STI prevention
–Promoting well-being
–Evidence based practices
–Facilitating empowerment
–Diverse Partnerships
Staff
CEO
In March 2005 Alischa founded YEAH, Australia’s first youth driven HIV and sexual health promotion organisation.
Over the past ten years Alischa has been involved in establishing Youth Programs for the International AIDS Conferences (Durban, Bangkok, Barcelona, Toronto and Mexico City), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has presented at a number of local and international academic forums. In recognition of her work, Alischa was nominated as a finalist for Young Australian of the Year 2006 and in 2011 she completed her Masters of Public Health.
Resource Program Manager
Felix has an academic background in gender and sexuality politics, and has been around YEAH since 2010. He is a strong believer in the importance of educating young people around sexual health, sexuality and respectful relationships. This pretty much explains why Felix is working here. The two things Felix enjoys most about his work is talking to young people about condoms and minor administrative tasks.
Red Aware Events Program Manager
Patsy is a communications graduate with a passion for project management and digital strategy. She enjoys working with young people from far-flung, exotic places like Gympie, Albany and Hobart through the Red Aware Events program. Her highlight at YEAH was meeting Australian hip-hop crew Horrorshow at Groovin’ the Moo 2011.
Agents of YEAH Program Manager
Fiona holds a Masters degree in Public Health and an undergraduate degree in International Development. She is a strong believer in consumer driven, culturally appropriate health promotion. Her varied work experience includes work as a Parole Officer, Immigration Officer, research assistant and tutor.
Board
Chairman
Josh Levy
Josh comes to us from the Foundation for Young Australians in his capacity as a facilitator, a change-agent, a mentor and an open-mind. In his role as Schools First Project Manager, Josh is responsible for the delivery of the educational and project management strategies pertaining to Schools First.
FYA is an organisation that empowers young Australians to be successful learners and creative, active and valued citizens and one that makes a real difference in public education, by creating new approaches to learning and forming powerful partnerships for investment in Australian schools and for investment in Australian young people.
In 2009 Josh was awarded the Garth Boomer Award for his work on the ruMAD? Program (Are You Making A Difference). Over the past five years Josh has authored and co-authored a number of articles and journal entries on youth participation, young people as agents of change and on student-led educational pedagogies. Some of these publications include; Primary & Middle Years Educator, ACSA; Youth Studies Australia, ACYS; Teacher, ACER Press.
Josh has a diverse and cross-sectoral background, working within the community, not for profit, education & training sectors and the corporate world, with extensive experience and practice engaging young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Josh thrives on engaging young people who typically fall through the cracks, and on encouraging collaborative community partnerships, which provides the drive for his work.
Josh is also a passionate and working musician, as a singer/songwriter Josh frequently performs his original work around the country and incorporates his passion for social change into his music.
CEO & Company Secretary
Alischa Ross
After beginning a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science Alischa followed her passion to work in the area of HIV/AIDS education and advocacy, drawing inspiration from her personal connection growing up in a family affected by HIV.
In March 2005 Alischa founded YEAH (Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS), Australia’s first youth driven health promotion organisation dedicated empowering young Australians to prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs through leadership and participation.
Over the past ten years Alischa has been involved in establishing Youth Programs for the International AIDS Conference (Durban, Bangkok, Barcelona, Toronto and Mexico City). In recognition of her work she was nominated as a finalist for Young Australian of the Year 2006. Alischa is an experienced public speaker presenting both locally and internationally at academic forums and has taken on a number of youth advisory roles with Government. In 2011 Alischa completed her Masters of Public Health.
Treasurer
Amanda Campbell
Amanda is a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers and has worked both in the UK and now in Australia. Combining more than ten years experience working on a broad range of clients in different industries from small businesses to large ASX multi-locational and multinational clients, Amanda brings considerable accounting and finance skill and expertise to YEAH’s Board.
Amanda is a qualified chartered accountant and studied accountancy and German at Norwich University in the UK. She moved to Australia in 2005 with her husband Ker.
Amanda has a passion for community involvement and has previously worked with Mission Australia on the Elevate youth mentoring programme.
Director
Joern Schwinge
Joern is an engineer and currently working as a strategy consultant. Combining more than ten years experience working in various countries, Joern worked as a manager in the engineering industry for multinational corporations.
Joern brings considerable project and innovation management skills, business analysis and change management expertise, strategy development and implementation experience to YEAH’s Board. Joern holds a Ph.D. degree (UNSW) in Chemical Engineering and has recently completed his MBA at Melbourne Business School.
Director
Dr. Sebastian Hobson
Sebastian brings a wide range of medical experience to the board of YEAH. He holds both a Medical and Honours degree from Monash University and has completed a postgraduate degree in Public Health & Sexual Health at the University of Melbourne. He has worked at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and is currently Registrar in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Monash Medical Centre.
Dr Hobson has worked extensively as a volunteer in developing world and HIV medicine in both Tanzania and Malaysia, and thus brings a practical knowledge having managed people with HIV/AIDS and others living in highrisk communities.
He has previously worked with numerous Community and Government Organisations including being President of the Medical Student Society, University Union Representative, Member of the Commonwealth Government Medical Workforce Reference Group and an active Member of the AMSA Leadership Development Seminar in Canberra. Sebastian is passionate about working with today’s youth to engage, educate and empower them to respond to HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmissible infections to promote health and well being.
Director
Jess Dean
Hailing from regional Victoria, Jessica has a deep passion for public health, politics and equality of access for all. In her current role as employment consultant with Max Employment, she is responsible for managing an eclectic case load. Her work sees her creating real employment solutions for people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB), those experiencing homelessness and/or drug and alcohol addictions, mental illness, or recent incarceration. Facilitating resolutions and interventions that address these barriers to work provide the drive for her work. In 2009 Jessica created and published a series of resource materials for APBCA [Asia Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS] and has contributed content to Y.E.A.H’s current resources. Her volunteer work demonstrates her commitment to community and supporting those at disadvantage. Upon completion of her tertiary studies Jessica was invited to join the Golden Key International Honour Society (membership offered to top 15% of academic achievers) and was an Executive member (Vice President for Publicity and Publications) of the La Trobe International Relations Association (LIRA).
Jessica absolutely loves to travel and has been fortunate enough to spend time in Western Europe, Canada, Dubai, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.
