The Youth Homelessness Advisory Council (YHAC) is a WA youth-led advocacy group for young people with lived experience of homelessness. The group was originally established in 2019 with a group of 10 young people who led the creation of the WA Alliance to End Homelessness’s Youth Homelessness Action Plan that aimed to increase sector and community capacity to respond to the needs of young people at risk of homelessness. In 2022, the Sisters of St John of God Ministries provided 3 years of funding to re-establish and further the work of the YHAC.
In order to deliver services and provide solutions that best meet the needs of young people engaged with the homelessness sector, we need to listen to their voices. Young people’s voices don’t currently have a platform in the housing and homelessness services sector, but YHAC strives to create this advocacy pathway. The team of young people advocate for improved policy, service systems, programs and outcomes in areas that impact young people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. This is achieved through the range of different activities and projects that YHAC engages in.
YHAC aims to create positive change within the youth homelessness sector through their advocacy efforts and greater relationships between government decision makers, service providers, the general community and young people themselves. Through their involvement with the program, young people gain valuable skills, build their capacity as both leaders and advocates, and get to use their lived experience to create positive change and improve services and systems for young people experiencing homelessness.
If you would like to stay up to date with YHAC, please contact Tom Garvey at thomas@yacwa.org.au or follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
Tom
YHAC Coordinator
Brooke
Hi! I’m Brooke, I’m 18 right now and am working towards getting my Cert III in Community services while working at a fruit and veg warehouse. Some things I love doing are heading down to the beach for a swim, listening to live music, going camping and also just going out to do fun activities with my partner.
Sully
My name is Sully and I joined YHAC because I want to use my personal experiences of homelessness to improve the services and supports available for young people experiencing homelessness. I feel grateful to be a part of YHAC and I am passionate about making resources available to young people experience homelessness. In my free time I enjoy going to the beach, 4WD’ing, chilling with friends, listening to music and playing ping pong.
Caitlan
Kaya! My name is Caitlan and I’m 18 years old, currently studying education at university. I’m deeply passionate about uplifting the voices of young people and using my lived experience to champion meaningful, youth-led change within the homelessness sector. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, having a yarn with my friends, and watching movies with my partner.
Kaya
Hi, I’m Kaya. YHAC is close to my heart. I was part of the first pilot in 2019 and rejoined in 2024. I’m passionate about advocating for young people, amplifying their voices, and using lived experience to create better outcomes in the youth sector. My goal is to one day run a “one-stop-shop” service where young people feel supported without having to retell their trauma. I’m committed to ending homelessness and creating change. I plan to study social science and youth work at uni, and I love music, singing, writing, and connecting with people.
Peter
Hi, I’m Peter. I’m 19 and I’m super grateful to be a part of YHAC. I’m passionate about working towards making a change for homeless youth and bettering access to resources, as well as trying to improve conditions. I’m currently studying my Certificate IV in Legal Services and will hopefully study my paralegal diploma next year. I also play guitar and sing in a band :)
Ronan
Hi! My name is Ronan. I live down in Albany and have a passion for human rights and youth advocacy. I'm a huge nerd who loves gaming, dungeons and dragons, archaeology and geopolitics. I love to write, do poetry, hang out with my friends, and occasionally do pottery or embroidery! My main hobby at the moment is dice making, and my favourite things to talk about are trilobites, philosophy, and discussing literature.
Issy
Hi! My name is Issy. I joined YHAC as I wanted to work towards better empowering young people, especially those impacted by homelessness and housing instability. My hope is that by using my lived experience, I can help fight for better supports and education for others. I also love reading, listening to music and going to the beach.
Anna
My name is Anna, and I joined YHAC because youth homelessness is something I understand personally and care deeply about. After experiencing housing instability and living in youth emergency accommodation, I saw how powerful the right support and services can be for young people rebuilding their lives. Since then, I have been involved in youth advocacy and leadership programs and have contributed to conversations about improving homelessness responses in Australia. I want to use both my lived experience and my skills to help make youth services more accessible, practical, and empowering. In my free time, I run a small creative bouquet business, where I design and create custom arrangements - combining creativity with entrepreneurship.
