Who’s Who in 2022, Community: Younity

Deception Bay Community Youth Programs launched a new name and new brand in July, with a focus on driving regional responses to issues such as family support and youth employment.

Now known as Younity, the community organisation has been serving people in Deception Bay and the broader region since it first opened its doors in 1994.

Director of Business Development Janine Botfield says the new name better reflects the organisation’s reach and the people it works with.

“The change in name and updated website and branding reflect the organisation’s reach and scope beyond youth programs and beyond Deception Bay,” Janine says.

She says that for years, Younity has been leading the way with a region-wide focus on community development, services and partnerships that serve the needs of people right across the Moreton Bay area and beyond.

“We really need to be at the forefront of driving regional responses, working with Council and (Regional Development Australia).

“We have got to ensure we have a community services plan to meet the region’s growth.”

Janine says Younity will continue to have a local focus and presence in Deception Bay, but will also continue to bring a region-wide and global awareness to its work with a presence onsite and online.

“What we will be doing is ensuring that services will be available through many different mediums.”

Younity board president Mark Cleaver says the new name and branding reflect the community and the people it serves.

“Younity has grown from our rich connections in Deception Bay to working, collaborating and partnering with communities across the Moreton Bay region and beyond,” Mark says.

About Younity

Younity works alongside children, young people, individuals and families to provide the connections, support, access, skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to have a fair go at life.

Through its programs, services and support Younity addresses the drivers of exclusion and disadvantage in the community so individuals can make the best choices for themselves and their families.

It promotes education, employment, innovation, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion so communities thrive.

Among the services provided by the organisation are the Grow program, which provides services, programs, support and events for children aged 0 to 12 and parents, carers and families; Local Pathways to Work, creating meaningful pathways to work and connecting job seekers with opportunities and employers across Moreton Bay; and Thrive Youth Services, which delivers services, programs and events to support vulnerable young people to navigate life’s challenges and thrive in their communities.

Among Younity’s social enterprises is the Bean Seen Kitchen, which provides catering services and has a cafe at Younity’s Deception Bay headquarters and a pop-up café at the Arana Hills library. It also provides training opportunities as a pathway to employment.