YHA Organisation

Our Mission

To create a community in diverse spaces, ​by connecting the curious, inspiring personal growth and creating genuine local experiences, in a sustainable way.

Who we are

YHA owns, operates, or partners with a diverse array of low-cost accommodation properties across Australia. We allow guests to enjoy experiences ranging from; Opera House views on the Sydney Harbour YHA rooftop, to sleeping in prison cells in the historic Fremantle Prison or hiking back to eco-friendly lodging in the heart of some of Australia’s very best National Parks. We are proud to have forged connections between curious experience seekers in our co-living and private accommodation spaces for over 80 years. 

We are a membership-based, for-purpose association, seeking to inspire personal growth and creating genuine local experiences in a sustainable way. YHA Australia is part of one of the world's largest affordable accommodation networks, Hostelling International, providing more than 3,000 YHA hostels in over 70 countries. 

Social Impact

Environmental Sustainability - YHA was founded on a desire to support the exploration of our planet with minimal ecological impact. Not only have we have led the way for over a decade in embracing sustainable travel through our sustainability program and a multitude of environment positive practices within our properties; we also aim to be leaders in regenerative travel for the future. We want our guests to have the opportunity not just to enjoy where they stay, but to leave it better than the way they found it.

Diversity Acceptance & Equality - our properties are great spaces in even greater places; and through our model of co-living and keeping costs as low as possible, we have made, and continue to keep, travel available to all. YHA's are more than just a place to go – we are also a place to connect. Our spaces and the activities we facilitate within them are designed to encourage learning and connection between humans.

History

A German schoolteacher named Richard Schirrmann came up with the idea of youth hostels in 1909 when he was leading his class on a hike through the countryside, taking shelter each night in barns and local schools. In 1912, Schirrmann opened the first Jugendherberge, or youth hostel, in the Altena Castle and in 1932, established the International Youth Hostel Federation – what’s now known as Hostelling International (HI).

Hostelling arrived in Australia in 1939 when the first youth hostel was established at Warrandyte in Victoria, and it wasn’t long before budget accommodation was being provided across the country to bring young people together in the great outdoors. Over the decades hostels began springing up in the city as well as the bush, but YHA never lost sight of Schirrmann’s philosophy of education and friendship. 

Today YHA provides a variety of accommodation options from private rooms with ensuites to co-living options with shared facilities to suit all types of travellers, enabling anyone and everyone with a spirit of adventure to Keep Exploring and sharing the joy of travel with other like minded people.  

Governance

YHA Ltd (trading as YHA Australia) has a Board of Directors and holds an Annual General Meeting. The Board is the governing body of the organisation and is made up of ordinary members usually serving for three year terms. The primary focus of the Board is the long-term sustainability of YHA, including:

• Setting strategic direction
• Overseeing development of the network
• Ensuring that appropriate risk management and people management systems are in place, and
• Enshrining YHA’s mission and core values in all aspects of the organisation’s activities.

Learn more about YHA’s Board of Directors