YMCA becomes 'the Y' with first logo change in 52 years

As part of a national brand and logo refresh, the YMCAs of Australia have announced that they will now be known as 'the Y'. 

Confirmation of the introduction of the new branding, which will be rolled out progressively across Australia in the coming months, follows the governors of the 15 individual YMCAs across the nation came together to endorse the move last Saturday (23rd November) at the 102nd AGM of the National Council of YMCAs in Melbourne, following a pilot of the rebrand by the Y NSW in November.

A well-known brand that has been in existence globally for 175 years, the logo change is the first in Australia in 52 years.

Its fresh new logo look was developed by a collective of the Y brand leads across Australia, with the design of the logo led by 26-year-old Y NSW graphic designer, Adrian Sorbello.

Commenting on the new branding, Y NSW Chief Executive, Susannah Le Bron stated “the Y has a long legacy of celebrating and supporting diversity, and we need our name to reflect that.

“We are so proud to be part of the world’s oldest and largest youth organisation, which has always been a place to belong. However, we appreciate and acknowledge the power of language and know that there is a lot in a name.

“This change will ensure that as an organisation we are crystal clear about our passion for offering all young people - regardless of race, age, language, gender, country of origin, cultural background, religion, sexual orientation or physical ability - pathways to live their best lives.”

The Y National Office Chief Executive, Melinda Crole said the development of the new logo and brand was a collaborative and inclusive process, adding “the new brand was created from the ground up, with hundreds of Y staff, volunteers and participants engaged in its development which started with agreeing that to be relevant today – we needed to be more relevant to young people.”

The Y NSW is currently in the process of having a Reconciliation Action Plan endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and this year elected the first gay, Indigenous Youth Premier, Hamani Tanginoa, as part of the Youth Parliament Program.

The Y aims to provide recreation centres, children services and programs that are inclusive for people with a disability and have lodged a re-registration application to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguarding Commission.

In 2019, 500 NSW Recreation Centre staff were delivered face-to-face LQBTI+ training and ACON’s (Aids Council of NSW) Welcome Here initiative was rolled out to eight Y sites with a target to register all sites as Welcoming Places by the end of 2021.