Youth Opportunity

Strong Minds, Bright Starts, Bold Futures.

We’re creating pathways for young people to reach their goals, from early childhood education to higher education, training and career success. A solid education leads to greater opportunities, both for the individual and future generations.

Youth mental health and resilience are widely recognised as urgent priorities, with many young people experiencing stress, isolation, and limited access to support. Without early intervention, these challenges can impact wellbeing, learning, and future opportunities. United Way is committed to reducing stigma, broadening access to resources, and creating supportive environments where young people feel connected and resilient.

Early childhood education and literacy are also vital areas of focus. Strong early development lays the foundation for lifelong health, learning, and wellbeing, yet many families face barriers to accessing quality programs. United Way works to expand opportunities for early education and literacy so that all children have the chance to thrive from the very beginning.

Youth engagement, leadership, and pathways are essential to ensuring young people can participate fully in their communities and shape their futures. Many face challenges in education, employment, and having their voices heard, highlighting the importance of skills development, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. United Way supports initiatives that build confidence, open pathways, and help young people realise their potential.

Our initiatives

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

In the Glenelg Shire, 30.3% of children are starting school developmentally vulnerable or at risk, which is significantly higher than the national average of 21.7% (AEDC 2018). This raises serious concerns as oral language skills play a crucial role in a child’s academic, social, and emotional success. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds often have fewer books at home,...

Little Book Boxes

The Little Book Box program is a community initiative that encourages a love of reading and sharing across the Glenelg Shire community. Stocked with pre-loved and donated books for all ages, each box operates on a simple “take a book, leave a book” principle, making reading accessible to everyone, anytime. Managed by United Way Glenelg in partnership...

Little FREE Pantries

United Way Glenelg’s Little FREE Pantries are a simple, local solution to help ease food insecurity. Located in neighbourhoods across the Glenelg Shire, these outdoor cupboards operate on the principle of “Take what you need, give what you can.” They are always open, always accessible, and rely on the generosity of the community to keep them stocked....

Magic of Storytime

The Magic of Storytime offers children a rich and imaginative experience that sparks curiosity and a love of stories, while also creating opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect, share, and build friendships. We bring this initiative to families across the Glenelg Shire: at the Portland Library for children, parents, and caregivers; at Heywood Rural Health where...

Portland Engagement Program

Sponsor a student placement The Portland Re-Engagement Program is a specialized campus of Portland Secondary College designed to support students who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from mainstream education. The program serves students from diverse backgrounds who have a strong desire to improve their chances of success in life. The program aims to assist...

Read Across Glenelg

Inspired by Children’s Book Week and the idea of “United Through Books,” United Way Glenelg aims to engage parents and children in every home. A major challenge in achieving this goal is overcoming low parental literacy rates and low income, which can make it difficult for children to engage with books at an early age. Research shows...

Our funds

School Resilience Fund

Strengthening school communities by supporting students in need.

Our 2025 Education Partners

Partnering with local organisations to create community impact.

Hands Up Casterton

SayNo2FamilyViolence Awareness Round Rotary clubs and local sporting leagues are uniting in Casterton for the #SayNo2FamilyViolence football and netball round, raising awareness and encouraging community action to prevent domestic violence.

Bundarra Primary School

Supporting Literacy improvement Bundarra is providing high-quality decodable books, including beginner readers, chapter books, and diverse texts, to help students build literacy skills and confidence while supporting teachers to close literacy gaps and improve overall literacy levels.

Portland Secondary College

Engaging Parents Portland Secondary College will host eight parent forums led by local experts, offering practical advice on teenage parenting, strengthening parent-school engagement, and sharing key insights through the College Newsletter.

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