Reach and The Youth Impact Foundation join forces to reshape mental health prevention in Australia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Melbourne, Australia – The Reach Foundation (www.reach.org.au) and The Youth Impact Foundation (TYIF) today announced they will join forces, creating a strengthened national organisation focused on prevention-led mental health and wellbeing for young people.

Together, the combined organisation will impact more than 200,000 young people in 2026 across schools and communities in Australia and New Zealand, with a significantly expanded national footprint.

The Reach Foundation brings a 30-year legacy as one of Australia’s original prevention-focused youth mental health organisations, having worked with more than one million young people. It is widely recognised for its youth-led facilitation model, deep facilitator training pathways and strong relationships with schools and communities.

The Youth Impact Foundation has pioneered an innovative for-purpose model that brings charities together under one structure to reduce duplication, increase affordability and expand access to high-quality, evidence-based wellbeing programs. Since its inception, TYIF has integrated multiple youth charities, preserving their brands while strengthening shared governance, infrastructure and growth capability.

Reach continues as a distinct and recognisable brand, maintaining its work with young people and unique facilitation approach while strengthened by shared services, national partnerships, research capability and improved financial resilience.

Importantly, the merger signals a shift in how the prevention sector operates. Rather than charities competing for limited funding pools to deliver similar programs, the integration reflects a collaborative model designed to reduce fragmentation and unlock greater collective impact.

By consolidating infrastructure and aligning strategy, the combined organisation aims to change the prevention game — focusing on scale, sustainability and measurable outcomes for young people.

Andy Skidmore, CEO of The Youth Impact Foundation, said the integration marks a defining moment for the sector. “Prevention charities have historically competed for funding despite sharing the same mission. Our model challenges that norm. By bringing organisations together, we reduce duplication, strengthen sustainability and amplify impact. Reach is an iconic brand in youth development, and together we are excited to be building a national platform that can genuinely reshape prevention in Australia. This is the approach our governments and communities are calling for because it is focused on one thing: better outcomes for young people.”

Alison Wright, CEO of The Reach Foundation, said the decision was both strategic, mission and values led. “Reach has spent three decades building deep trust with young people and transforming lives. This merger protects the legacy of Jim Stynes and Paul Currie while unlocking the scale and stability required to grow that impact nationally. At a time when youth mental health challenges are increasing, prevention cannot afford to be fragmented. Together, we can reach more young people, more consistently, and with greater impact.”

The merger positions the combined organisation as a leading national voice in prevention-focused youth mental health and wellbeing — with the scale, credibility and infrastructure to influence policy, attract investment and deliver meaningful outcomes for the next generation.

Media enquiries:
Andy Skidmore
0422 202 775
andy@theyouthimpactfoundation.org.au