Ohana for Youth is a Queensland based not for profit charity committed to supporting young people to reconnect with education, strengthen their wellbeing and build positive pathways for the future.
Established to create greater opportunities for young people facing barriers to engagement, Ohana for Youth has more than 30 years working alongside students, families, educators and community partners to deliver programs that support learning, belonging and personal growth.
Today, Ohana for Youth proudly underpins and governs Arcadia College and Ohana College, continuing its commitment to providing safe, inclusive and responsive educational environments where young people can thrive.
To engage young people in education so they can feel empowered to belong, grow and thrive.
Since its establishment, the organisation has worked with more than 15,000 young people through a wide range of programs and services designed to strengthen confidence, develop practical skills and increase participation in education, training, employment and community life.
Over the decades, Ohana for Youth has delivered youth employment programs, vocational training initiatives, work readiness support, mentoring, life skills programs and community based services. These initiatives have helped thousands of young people build independence, gain qualifications, access employment opportunities and achieve important personal milestones.
As communities changed and the needs of young people became increasingly complex, the organisation continued to evolve. Through its direct work with young people and families, Ohana for Youth recognised that many young people required a different educational pathway to successfully engage in learning and achieve positive long term outcomes.
As the Special Assistance School sector emerged and expanded across Queensland, Ohana for Youth became an early advocate for educational models that combined learning, wellbeing and individualised support. The organisation recognised the important role these schools could play in helping young people reconnect with education, strengthen their sense of belonging and create meaningful pathways for the future.
This commitment ultimately led to the establishment of Arcadia College and later Ohana College, extending the organisation's impact through specialised educational environments designed to support young people facing barriers to engagement in mainstream schooling.
Today, these schools represent an important part of Ohana for Youth's ongoing legacy, continuing a long history of investing in young people and creating opportunities for them to learn, grow and thrive.
While much has changed over the past three decades, one thing has remained constant: a belief in the potential of young people and a commitment to helping them create positive futures for themselves and their communities.
Through its programs, schools and community partnerships, the organisation has helped young people:
Ohana for Youth has also worked alongside families, educators and support services to create environments where young people feel safe, valued and supported.
The establishment of Arcadia College and Ohana College represents a significant part of this legacy, providing specialised educational pathways for students who may not have found success within mainstream settings.
Located in Robina on the Gold Coast, Arcadia College is a co-educational Special Assistance School providing education and wellbeing support for young people with diverse learning, emotional, psychological and physical needs.
Through individualised learning plans, small class sizes and strong wellbeing supports, Arcadia College helps students reconnect with education, build confidence and develop meaningful pathways for their future.
Located in Logan, Ohana College is a co-educational Special Assistance School providing safe, inclusive and future focused learning opportunities for young people who require a more flexible educational pathway.
The school supports students to re-engage with learning while developing confidence, capability and a strong sense of belonging.
Everything we do is guided by an Advantaged Thinking approach.
Advantaged Thinking focuses on recognising and investing in the strengths, talents and aspirations of young people. Rather than concentrating on barriers or deficits, this approach encourages opportunities, participation and growth.
We believe every young person has strengths to build upon and the capacity to succeed when provided with the right support, relationships and opportunities.
This philosophy influences the way we design our educational programs, support student wellbeing and work alongside families and community partners.
Through Advantaged Thinking, we seek to create environments where young people feel seen, heard, valued and capable of achieving their goals.
Ohana for Youth is governed by a volunteer Board that provides strategic leadership, oversight and accountability for the organisation's charitable purpose and educational activities.
The Board is committed to ensuring strong governance, responsible stewardship and positive outcomes for young people and their families.
Aaron is committed to supporting students achieving their goals and in seeking to ensure all students have access to quality education irrespective of social, emotional or financial barriers.
Aaron is a respected educational consultant working in tertiary and school education. Until October 2016, Aaron led TAFE Queensland Brisbane in the role of General Manager. Aaron was also the Chief Executive Officer for the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, and Pro Vice Chancellor at Charles Darwin University.
He worked as a Solicitor in Victoria where he practiced in Commercial Law, Civil Litigation and Employment Law.
Aaron served as a Senior Adviser to the former Premier of Tasmania, the Hon Jim Bacon AC and Senior Policy Adviser to the Paul Wriedt MHA when he was the Tasmanian Minister for Vocational Education and Training.
Trina’s business interests are located on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Wollongong. Highly sought after for both her business and governance acumen, she is on the board of TAFE Qld, is the past Chair and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Gold Coast committee. She is also Chair of Ohana for Youth and the Spot Academy; Trina sits on the board of The Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame and Sports Gold Coast.
Trina co-founded Women in Power to mentor other women and is a member of the Qld Government’s Mentoring for Growth.
Trina’s volunteering has seen accolades as an Outstanding Volunteer to the Indigenous Community and has received a 20-year Leadership Award from the City of Gold Coast. She is an avid advocate for youth education and development and Gold Coast sport and business.
Julia is passionate about assisting all young people into meaningful careers. Julia had chaired the Community Investment Committee for Youth Employment on the Gold Coast, been an Employer.
Champion for Youth Employment, part of the National Youth Employment Body and works on the ground with young people in many Industry Lead, Recruitment, Traineeship, School Based, Transition to Work & Career Inspiration Programs.
Having owned businesses as well as qualifications and experience in all areas of Hospitality, Tourism, Business and Training, Julia has demonstrated history in creating strong, invested teams to drive business success. Skilled in recruitment, retention, operations, customer service, training and business development.
Shannon Willoughby is The University of Queensland’s Executive Director for Government Partnerships and Policy. Working with the Vice-Chancellor and President, Shannon drives strategic engagement with government to support new partnerships and influence policy - particularly in priority industries and sectors of focus, including the bioeconomy, energy transformation, the biomedical sector, workforce and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Shannon previously ran the State Government’s International Education and Training strategy, working across the state and internationally to grow the service export and enhancing student experience amongst Queensland education visitors.
Shannon was also the CEO of Study Gold Coast, and a former chief reporter at News Limited. She sits on a number of boards and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Vicki Tod is the CEO of Eximm, a company delivering a range of specialised integrated property services to domestic, commercial and government clients across Australia.
Vicki has lead Eximm through a rebranding of the company and increased it’s offering of services to the marketplace following a restructure of its strategy. In doing this, Vicki has made a point of personally connecting with the culture of the company to cultivate trust of the team and clients.
With Eximm having such a diverse range of services and large team, Vicki brings executive level experience in business strategy, planning, operations, human resources, financial management, business development and sales and marketing.
At Ohana for Youth, we are committed to supporting young people to reconnect with education, build confidence and create positive pathways for their future.
Your support helps provide safe, inclusive and flexible learning environments where young people can thrive. Donations contribute to the resources and opportunities that make a difference every day, including educational materials, technology, wellbeing initiatives, excursions and enriching learning experiences.
A contribution of $1,000 per year, or $250 per term, can help support a young person's educational journey and provide access to the tools, support and environment they need to succeed.
Together, we can create opportunities for young people to feel supported, connected and capable of building a positive future.
12 Centerline Place
Robina, QLD 4226
PO BOX 394
Varsity Lakes, QLD 4227
Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
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