our school

A place to belong

At Youth Inc., you will never, ever be just a number in the system.

Our school is a refuge for everyone who’s ever felt out of place in a one-size-fits-all world. Here, our kaleidoscope of identities – neurodivergent thinkers, creative artists, cultural trailblazers – doesn’t just fit in, it fuels our creative fire.

We co-design learning journeys that bend and stretch to your rhythm, pairing you with Life Navigators who listen first and build next. There is no “skulking off to see the school counsellor” here, but holistic, integrated wellbeing that meets you where you are.

Every setback becomes shared wisdom, every triumph a reason to celebrate together.

And if you trip up along the way? Well, we’re big fans of failure. ‘Failabration’ we call it. We’ll empower you to pick yourself up, work out what happened, and get back on track.

peace sign hand
About us

A LEARNING COMMUNITY

We believe that people learn best when they’re part of a community. Here, every voice matters.

Our space is designed to feel like home the moment you step through the door. Walls adorned with stories replace whiteboards. We celebrate not just what you can do, but who you are. That celebration fuels the courage to dive into projects that tease our your hidden strengths, to try out new ideas without fear, and to express the talents that make you undeniably you.

We aim to provide a welcoming place to belong. 

Our story

Started 2006. Established 2018.

Youth Inc. was founded in 2006 by our benefactor and Chairman, Spero Chapley.

For the first 10 years we focused on employment programs as a context for positive change. Gradually, however, we began to understand that young people needed more than a 3-week pre-employment program to discover their unique talents and how to express them in a meaningful work. So, we decided to start a school! ‘How hard could that be?’… so we thought.

Spero and the Chapley family have made an enormous financial contribution to Youth Inc. over many years, and we thank them for their inspiration and unwavering support as we seek to develop our innovative school model.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Since 2018, our Learning Model has been a living experiment in collective growth. We believe in continuously listening, iterating, and rising together. We’ve woven student insights, industry challenges, and community feedback into every revision, turning what began as a radical alternative into an ever-shifting, ever-deepening co-learning ecosystem. Looking ahead, we’re committed to staying curious: continually reassessing our impact, amplifying unheard voices, and co-designing the next frontier of practical learning so that every pathway leads to discovery, purpose, and unleashed potential.

BUILDING YOUR TOMORROW

It was R. Buckminster Fuller who said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

We’re in the process of building our new model, and we invite you to be a part of each step along the journey. We know it’s a complex, complicated world out there, but together we can forge tools to help you find your way.

 

Started 2006. Established 2018.

Youth Inc. was founded in 2006 by our benefactor and Chairman, Spero Chapley.

For the first 10 years we focused on employment programs as a context for positive change. Gradually, however, we began to understand that young people needed more than a 3-week pre-employment program to discover their unique talents and how to express them in a meaningful work. So, we decided to start a school! ‘How hard could that be?’… so we thought.

Spero and the Chapley family have made an enormous financial contribution to Youth Inc. over many years, and we thank them for their inspiration and unwavering support as we seek to develop our innovative school model.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Since 2018, our Learning Model has been a living experiment in collective growth. We believe in continuously listening, iterating, and rising together. We’ve woven student insights, industry challenges, and community feedback into every revision, turning what began as a radical alternative into an ever-shifting, ever-deepening co-learning ecosystem. Looking ahead, we’re committed to staying curious: continually reassessing our impact, amplifying unheard voices, and co-designing the next frontier of practical learning so that every pathway leads to discovery, purpose, and unleashed potential.

BUILDING YOUR TOMORROW

It was R. Buckminster Fuller who said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

We’re in the process of building our new model, and we invite you to be a part of each step along the journey. We know it’s a complex, complicated world out there, but together we can forge tools to help you find your way.