Sonder Youth staff at a smoking ceremony. Sonder Youth is run by young people, for young people. The team consists of South Coast locals who are alumni of the Changemakers Program.
Sonder Youth supports young people in the South Coast region of NSW to build mental wellbeing, confidence and a sense of belonging through safe, inclusive, face-to-face programs that prioritise connection, agency and wellbeing.
Sonder Youth’s place-based programs, peer mentorship, and practical skill-building help young people to feel supported as they navigate challenges and create positive change in their lives and communities.
An inspiring organisation born and bred on the NSW South Coast, Sonder Youth’s mission is to improve youth mental health through positive action, by empowering participants to start and run their own initiatives.
The word "sonder" references the idea that every person is living a life as complex as one’s own, and through its name, Sonder Youth signals its deep understanding for every individual it encounters.
With a team including a number of program alumni, the kindness and empathy of ‘peer-to-peer’ connection is at the heart of Sonder Youth’s work in offering programs including Changemakers Program, the South Coast Changemakers Forum, Program Leader Training and Wellbeing retreats.
Coolaroo Foundation is proud to help support the Changemakers Program, a weekly two-hour program delivered on campus at a local Shoalhaven high school over two terms.
Students focus on personal development before teaming up to develop and implement community projects, forging lasting relationships with like-minded peers whilst experiencing first-hand how individuals can create meaningful change at a local level.
“Sonder Youth gave me a space where I felt genuinely seen, supported and valued.
It helped me find confidence in myself and showed me that young people’s ideas and voices really do matter.
My journey reflects how powerful it can be when young people are given support, encouragement and a space where they feel like they belong.”
In the 2025 Mission Australia Youth Survey of more than 17,000 people aged 14 to 19, climate change and the environment ranked as the third most pressing national concern, behind cost of living and mental health. It's this reality that Sonder Youth's CEO, Avalon Hope Bourne, set out to address in her 2024 Churchil Fellowship.