Careers at YHA

After spending 2016 backpacking and staying in Hostelling International accommodation across Europe, Ebony jumped at the opportunity to join the YHA Melbourne Metro team in May 2018 as a night supervisor. After just over a year in this role, Ebony made the move across the country to Perth City YHA and transitioned into a part-time receptionist position. It wasn’t long before Ebony was promoted to the role of duty manager at the beginning of 2020, just before COVID hit. In January 2021, Ebony was given the opportunity to lead a small team in re-opening our UNESCO World Heritage listed property, Fremantle Prison YHA, where she is now the Deputy Manager and proud to call her close-knit team family. Ebony has a true passion for backpacking and sharing Australian culture as well as learning about new ones. On her days off, you will often find Ebony exploring or hiking in a new part of the Perth region with her dog Odin! 

Itai began his journey with YHA in August 2019 as a duty manager at Melbourne Central YHA. Since then, Itai has provided extensive support to our network of hostels throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southern & Regional NSW/ACT. Itai’s favourite aspect of working for YHA is the people he has had the opportunity to meet along the way, as well as the scope to develop his working skills by relocating and experiencing life in different parts of Australia. Itai has supported both the Coffs Harbour YHA from March 2021 until its eventual sale in mid-May, and more recently acted as property manager of the Canberra City YHA. Outside of work, Itai is a die-hard AFL fan, watching every Essendon game and getting to as many as he can. He loves to travel, play the guitar and sing (with his go-to karaoke song being Little Red Corvette by Prince)! 

Kyla began her journey with YHA as a casual receptionist at Adelaide Central YHA in June 2014. Kyla joined the team on a full-time basis in 2016, and not long after made the move to Melbourne Central YHA later the same year. Kyla’s passion for YHA, travel and assisting guests with booking tours and planning their holidays meant that it didn’t take long for Kyla to be promoted to Duty Manager at the end of 2016. But it didn’t stop there, as Kyla was promoted again in 2018 to Deputy Manager with the team at Melbourne Metro YHA, and she has been there ever since! Outside of work, Kyla spends her time seeking new outdoor adventures, she loves exploring and hiking with her puppy, taking photos, and cooking delicious vegan treats! 

Nathan began his career with YHA in Surfers Paradise in 2010 after working in hostels abroad and on the Gold Coast. Nathan was a receptionist for 2 years, promoted to Hostel Manager at Surfers Paradise YHA in July 2012 where he took on the challenge of managing the hostel. After leading the team at Surfers for 7 years, Nathan made the decision to head back to Canberra to wait out the COVID-19 lockdown with his family & mates. Three months on, the opportunity came up for Nathan to become an MSA Contractor at Airlie Beach YHA, taking him even further north to re-open the hostel after the national COVID lockdown. Nathan re-opened the property on 24 June 2020 and has been operating there ever since. Outside of work, Nathan loves camping, road trips, fishing and boating – anything to do with water!