The YWCA Victoria is the leading advocate for young women in Victoria. As the longest running women's organisation in Victoria, we have a proud history of achievements.

YWCA Victoria was formed in 1882 by a group of 15 women who were led by a common purpose ‘to give help to women by women’. At this time, women could not vote, serve on juries, stand in parliament and married women could not own or dispose of property in their own right.
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The YWCA has continued to serve the Victorian community for over 120 years by improving the opportunities and life skills of women, especially young disadvantaged women who have been marginalized economically, socially and politically.

The YWCA Victoria provides vital services to many in the community, including a range of programs in housing, job placement, education and training, mentoring, childcare referral for newly arrived migrants and refugees, community arts, sporting programs, school holiday programs and many other services that support the Victorian community.

Membership is central to the YWCA. The YWCA allocates 30% of all governance leadership positions to young women under the age of 30 and members of the YWCA are active in volunteering, advocacy work, mentoring and helping with fundraising events. Friendship, mutual support and encouraging leadership in young women make the YWCA a vibrant community to belong to.

YWCA Victoria is part of the global YWCA movement of 25 million women but we are self governing. Our commercial operations provide financial independence, the type of independence that is not only important to our organization, but to all women.

The YWCA has been active in Geelong since 1872, active in Melbourne since 1882 and active in Bendigo since 1906. The Bendigo, Geelong and Melbourne YWCAs came together in 2001 to form YWCA Victoria. The YWCA has continued to serve the Victorian community for over 120 years by improving the opportunities and life skills of women, especially young disadvantaged women who have been marginalized economically, socially and politically.

The YWCA is committed to the elimination of discrimination against young women. We create opportunities for leadership, participation and achievement. As part of a global organisation, YWCA Victoria puts the rights of young women at the forefront of community debate.