Booking & Cancellation
How much preparation is required from teachers?
Very little. Once you've booked, we handle the content, speakers and facilitation. Your school simply arranges transport, supervision and getting students there on the day — we take care of the rest.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as you can. Our conferences and programs fill quickly, especially in our busiest months — February, March, November and December. Booking early gives you the best choice of dates and cities.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
All cancellations must be made in writing to info@ylaaus.com, and the date we receive your notice sets the refund tier. For events: 16+ weeks before the event = full refund; 8–16 weeks = 75% refunded; 4–8 weeks = 25% refunded; under 4 weeks = non-refundable and non-transferable. In-school programs follow a separate schedule. Please read the full terms & conditions.
How do we book, and when is payment due?
Booking takes just a few minutes. Once you book, your invoice is due within 14 days — or before the event if it's 14 days or fewer away. In-school programs are secured with a signed agreement and a deposit. Get in touch and we'll guide you through every step.
Can we get a refund or credit on some tickets if we don’t use them?
Please read our refunds terms and conditions. If they don’t apply to you, unfortunately, we cannot offer you a refund.
Pricing & Value
What if our school has a limited budget?
Talk to us. As a not-for-profit, our goal is to reach as many students as possible — so if cost is a barrier, including for disadvantaged or low-SES students, email info@ylaaus.com and we'll do our best to find a solution.
Is YLAA worth it compared to a one-off guest speaker?
A guest speaker inspires for an hour — YLAA gives students a full, for-youth, by-youth leadership experience they act on long afterwards. Since 2018 we've worked with more than 65,000 students across 1,500+ schools, and students leave with practical skills in confidence, communication and leadership, plus the motivation to lead change back at school.
How much does a YLAA conference or program cost?
It depends on the program and how many students take part. Conference tickets are priced per student, and in-school programs are quoted to your school's size and goals. Because we're a not-for-profit, we keep our events as accessible as we can. The quickest way to get exact pricing is to request a quote — we'll tailor it to your school.
Can our school get a discount for disadvantaged or low-SES students?
At YLAA our goal is to help as many students as we can. If schools or students need financial assistance, we are more than happy to negotiate with the school and offer a discount if eligible. Please contact info@ylaaus.com.
Outcomes & Impact
Does YLAA work for regional, remote and diverse student groups?
Yes. We work with metropolitan, regional and remote schools across the public, independent and Catholic sectors, and our for-youth, by-youth model connects with a wide range of students. Tell us about your cohort and we'll make sure the experience fits.
What will students actually walk away with?
Students leave more confident and better equipped to lead — with practical skills in communication, teamwork, resilience and leadership, and the motivation to act on them at school. Our programs are co-designed with young people, and to date we've reached 65,000+ students across 1,500+ schools around Australia.
How many other students will attend?
Plenty. In 2025 more than 11,200 students attended across Australia, and we expect even more next year — your students will be in a room buzzing with young leaders from schools everywhere.
How many other schools attend?
In 2025, 841 schools took part across Australia — metropolitan, regional and remote, from every sector.
On the Day
What do the speakers speak about?
The speakers are assigned a range of different topics to talk about. These topics and objectives can all be found on our website.
What do we do if we need to leave early?
If you need to leave early, please inform one of our staff and after the second break, we will seat you and your school towards the back, so no one is disturbed when you depart from the event.
What time does the event finish?
The event concludes at 2:30pm. This allows for photos to be taken at the end with the presenters, and for students and teachers to make it back to school before the end of the school day, in order to skip peak hour traffic.
What time does the event start?
The event begins at 9:15am sharp. Please promptly arrive at 8:45am to allow for check-in with event staff, and to find your seats. You don’t want to miss the beginning of the event - we like to start off with a bang!
Where do we go on the day once we arrive at the venue?
There will be signs directing you as to where to go on the day. If you get lost, ask the venue staff and they will be able to direct you to the location.
What do the students wear?
We suggest that students wear their school uniforms on the day. This makes it easier for teachers to be able to locate their students, and for facilitators to group students together based on school.
How long are the breaks for?
The two breaks are 40 minutes. Please keep in mind that it may take a couple of minutes to exit the venue and a couple of minutes to re-enter, so please factor this in when considering your available time.
What food can we purchase close by?
Please ask the venue or have a look online. Most venues should have cafes and shops nearby that sell food, but please confirm beforehand, so that nobody is left hungry on the day.
What does the day include?
SYLC - The day includes a range of different speakers sharing their stories and experiences, a ‘changemakers’ panel’, Q&A’s, interactive activities, and more.
DNL – The day includes a range of activities, speakers, Q&A’s, and more.
All events prioritise teaching essential soft skills, leadership and teamwork, entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal development for students. More information about event objectives can be found on our event website pages.
What do we need to bring?
Please bring a pen, a notebook, a water bottle, and food unless you are buying food on the day. Please ask the students not to bring their school bags as the venues do not permit them in the rooms - a shoulder bag or tote bag is efficient.
Where is parking?
You can find parking information on our website in the event under “transport information”. If the details you need are not here, please contact the venue as they will be able to provide the most accurate information.
Access & Attendance
What age are the students who tend to attend the event?
Our primary conference has been designed for year 5's and 6s whilst our secondary conference is age appropriate for all years from 7 to 12.
If a student requires special assistance, can a carer come with a student if they have not previously purchased a ticket?
Yes, but please email info@ylaaus.com to book another adult ticket. Carer's can come free of charge, but we must know they are attending.
Can a student with accessibility requirements come?
Yes, of course. Please inform us prior to the event so we can reserve easily accessible seats and otherwise accommodate the student’s accessibility needs.
Do we need hard copy tickets?
No, on the day we will have a list with your school name and number of registered attendees. You will only need to check in at our registration desk.
Do we need the names of the students attending in order to register?
No, the names are not needed. On the day of the event, YLAA staff will undertake a headcount to make sure the number of students matches the number of tickets purchased.
Safety & Supervision
Are your facilitators trained?
Yes — our events and programs are facilitated by trained YLAA staff and volunteers. Because the attending school remains responsible for supervision and duty of care, we recommend teachers accompany their students throughout the day.
Who is responsible for supervising students at a YLAA event?
YLAA events are run by trained staff and volunteers who provide general supervision of the event. Individual duty of care and student welfare remain the responsibility of the attending school or guardian, so schools should arrange the level of supervision their students need. Full details are in our terms & conditions.
