A world of possibilities.
Empowering Australia’s Youth to Build Economic Opportunities
Junior Achievement Australia empowers young Australians to build the mindset, skillset, and confidence to succeed in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial capability, at a time when many young people face employment and financial pressure.
Junior Achievement is one of the world’s largest NGOs dedicated to preparing young people for success through practical learning experiences in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial capability. Australia is an important expansion country within the JA global network because of its strong economy, well-managed natural resources, and dynamic, resilient workforce.
JA Australia’s equity-based initiatives aim to equip young Australians with the skillset and mindset to become the country’s next generation of innovators, founders, and business leaders.
The need is clear. Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2025 indicates that youth unemployment was around 10%, compared with an overall unemployment rate of 4.2%. The Australian Youth Barometer 2024 also found that 62% of young people believe they will be financially worse off than their parents. JA Australia’s entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy and inclusion initiatives are designed to respond directly to these concerns.
Learning Experiences
Learning experiences such as the JA Company Program help young people develop entrepreneurial skills, while other programs strengthen work readiness, financial capability, and financial inclusion. With support from business volunteers and mentors, JA Australia prepares young people to create positive impact with their peers in Australia and beyond.
JA’s global Fixed, Flexible, and Freestyle strategy ensures that programs can be adapted for students across different school and out-of-school learning levels. This gives JA Australia a practical framework for meeting young people where they are, regardless of their learning context.
Sustainability and resilience are embedded in JA education programs, alongside support for educators so they are trained, prepared, and able to add value to each learning experience.
Regional Connection
JA Australia also creates a pathway for young Australians to connect and collaborate with peers across the growing JA Asia Pacific network. Through this regional connection, Australian youth will have opportunities to engage with peers from at least 13 other Asia Pacific nations, extending the reach of JA’s proven global model and building on its track record of positive impact.