About Us

Meet the Board

Meet the Staff

  • A woman with short dark hair wearing a black top and a blue lanyard against a pink background.

    Sandy Hegarty

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
    info@gippslandyouthspaces.org.au

  • Portrait of a woman with brown hair wearing a black shirt and a blue lanyard, standing against a teal background.

    Brittany

    ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
    admin@latrobeyouthspace.org.au

  • A woman with glasses and brown hair tied up, wearing a black shirt with logos, standing against a blue background.

    Rachael

    LATROBE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEADER rachael@latrobeyouthspace.org.au

  • jacqui@latrobeyouthspace.org.au

    Jacqui

    LYS SENIOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    jacqui@latrobeyouthspace.org.au

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a denim jacket over an orange shirt standing against a plain white background.

    Kelly

    EAST GIPPSLAND CO-TEAM LEADER
    kelly@gippslandyouthspaces.org.au

  • A woman with brown hair tied back, wearing a black t-shirt with the words 'GROUNDED YOUTH' and a blue lanyard, standing against a turquoise background.

    Callie

    EAST GIPPSLAND CO-TEAM LEADER
    callie@gippslandyouthspaces.org.au

  • A woman with reddish-brown hair pulled back, wearing earrings, a black shirt with the words "GIPPSLAND YOUTH," and a lanyard, smiling against a pink background.

    Tracey

    Casual

  • Phill

    WELLINGTON PROGRAM OFFICER
    phillip@gippslandyouthspaces.org.au

Positions Vacant…

To express interest in a position with Gippsland Youth Spaces - send your cover letter and resume to info@gippslandyouthspaces.org.au

Board and YPC Positions open in October annually.

The Back Story

2018

The Youth Space Project was first funded in 2018 and began life in a vacant shop in Mid Valley Shopping Centre, Morwell.

The initial, local consortium chose the YMCA as lead for the project; the YMCA took on the role of employing staff, managing finances, and supporting delivery of programs. Although a subcommittee of the YMCA Board, the consortium was expected to operate as the board responsible for the project. After an extensive round of interviews of young Latrobe Valley residents, the first Youth Governance Committee was established in late 2018 and began their work.

2019

Latrobe Youth Space Inc. was established by Dan Poynton, Liz Pearson-Legg, Lisa Price, Jane Barr, and Barry Rogers. Their dream was to see the Youth Space project operate with a board comprising young people and others who lived and worked locally. The inaugural members formed the first board of LYS Inc.

2020

The Office for Youth (Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing) advised that it was seeking tenders to deliver the Youth Space Project for approximately 6 months – up until an expected announcement of ongoing funding.

LYS Inc. established an initial MOU with 14 Collaboration Partners (with 3 more admitted soon afterwards). The partners agreed to the tender submitted by GippSport, on behalf of LYS Inc.

Latrobe Youth Space Inc., auspiced by GippSport was selected by the Victorian Government to deliver the Youth Space project. The Office for Youth and LYS Inc. agreed that the Youth Project would be delivered by LYS Inc. from 7 December 2020.

The board welcomed a small transitional team seconded from partner organisations, together with LYS chair Barry Rogers to get the project up and running, recruiting senior staff and negotiating LYS Work Plan with the Office for Youth.

The Board established an Interim Youth Advisory Group to provide advice and insight into the needs of young people as the project developed. Lincoln Ingravalle as Chair and Tessa Jenkins as deputy Chair worked closely with board members to draft the first policy documents: LYS Inc Youth Engagement Guide, Youth Governance Committee Terms of Reference, YGC Chair Position Description, YGC Deputy Chair Position Description.

Expressions of Interest were invited from young people to become members of the Interim YAG, and several of the young people from the previous Youth Governance Committee became I-YAG members along with some new people. We particularly acknowledge the involvement of Lincoln and Tessa together with Erin Byrne, Brit Noonan, Rohan Symonds, Mitch Morgan, and Kayla McCarthy.

May 2021

Grand Opening of Latrobe Youth Space

The much-awaited official opening and introduction of LYS Inc. to the community finally was confirmed for May 2021, after juggling COVID restrictions, lockdowns and the looming June 30th project end date– almost 6 months after the building was first available! 

The Minister for Youth, the Honourable Ros Spence and super supportive local member Ms Harriet Shing, along with LYS Inc. Chair Barry Rogers and interim Youth Advisory Group (iYAG) Deputy Chair Tessa Jenkins officially opened the site, welcoming and celebrating the launch with 120 locals made up of young people, partner organisations, local businesses, and officials.

Shortly thereafter, the state budget included amazing news announcing LYS Inc. “$2.1M in funding to deliver the Latrobe Youth Space initiative for two years (2021-22 and 2022-23), as part of the Victorian Government’s funding to strengthen youth participation and connection to communities, including young people at risk of disengagement.” Administered through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.“

October 2021

The first Annual General Meeting was held, adopting the new constitution, and elections for board positions, under the two categories of membership were held.

The meeting noted the establishment of the Youth Governance Committee (YGC) by the inaugural board and thanked the members of the first board and interim Youth Advisory Group.

The meeting concluded with the appointment of the first life members of Latrobe Youth Space Inc. Lincoln Ingravalle, Barry Rogers and Dan Poynton.

2022

Received news the GYS Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grant application, submitted with 18 local partner organisations, was successful. Launching Youth Spaces mobile delivery throughout East Gippsland and Wellington.

2023

The Board held a Special General Meeting to change the name of the organisation from Latrobe Youth Space Inc. to Gippsland Youth Spaces Inc.

May 2023

The Victorian Government Budget announced funding to the Latrobe Youth Space would be cut.

After serious campaigning, the Victorian Government extended funding until January 2024, where another announcement of funding until June 2024 was secured.

May 2024

Received news that Latrobe Youth Space would receive $900,000 funding 2024-2027 under the Regional Development portfolio. It was later confirmed that GYS would need to match the funds.

May 2025

Successfully received charity status as a Public Benevolent Institution, along with DGR status!

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Gippsland Youth Spaces Inc. is a child safe organisation. We have a zero tolerance approach to child abuse, and we’re committed to promoting and protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect to the greatest extent possible. All children and young people have equal rights to protection from child abuse, regardless of their sex, religion, cultural background, social or economic status, disability or sexual orientation. 

Our Partners

Logo for Gippsland Youth Spaces Inc. with a charity registration badge.