Our Story
Our story
In the late 1990s, Peter Marshman OAM saw how a simple management training tool was helping employees go beyond their limits, uncover hidden strengths, and step into opportunities they never thought possible. It sparked a powerful question: what if young people were given the same tools to change their lives?
The question inspired Peter to establish Youth Opportunities Association (SA) Inc. with a bold yet simple mission: to equip young people, especially those facing disadvantage, with the skills, confidence, and hope to make positive choices, break cycles of hardship, and build brighter futures.
The following year, we held our first school-based Personal Leadership Program with Year 10 students in Salisbury and Smithfield Plains High Schools. Those early days were inspiring. Teenagers walked in unsure and walked out believing they could take control of their stories. Those first successes inspired us to grow and reach more.
Today, more than 25 years on, the Personal Leadership Program has touched the lives of almost 15,000 young people. We’ve partnered with over 80 schools and organisations across metropolitan and regional South Australia. We’ve witnessed students finding their voice, families breathing easier, and communities changed in ways seen and unseen.
We know that the world young people live in is shifting fast. More than ever, emotional intelligence, resilience, and purpose are essential life skills. That’s why our program has evolved: not just to teach, but to support, giving tomorrow’s leaders the tools they need to thrive in school, work and life.
Looking Ahead:
Strategic Plan 2025-2027
“This strategic plan is about renewal, deepening our commitment to the young people who need us most, and refining our programs to meet the challenges they and their communities face.”
— Taicea Agnew, Chief Executive, Youth Opportunities
In the coming years, our focus will centre on:
Listening closely to our school partners so we can focus support where it has the greatest impact.
Enhancing the quality of every program we deliver, with care, insight, and best practice.
Building stronger, more compassionate connections with every community we work in.