1978
First program developed for employees in Modern Group.
Our Story
1993
Programs at TAFE for students in the hospitality sector.
1997
Youth Opportunities Established
programs for the unemployed to develop leadership skills of young people so they could help themselves and make positive life choices, breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment and disadvantage.
1999
First school based programs delivered at Salisbury High
2001
Development of animation and new program
2001
Founder Peter Marshman awarded OAM for his contribution to the community in establishing Youth Opportunities.
2002
Awarded the Prime Ministers award for excellence in community business partnerships with Burns for Blinds – State winner.
2004
Reached a milestone of 1,000 students graduating from our programs.
National winner of the Prime Ministers award for excellence in community business partnerships with Burns for Blinds.
2005
Choose Your Life book, a book given to students at graduations as an ongoing reference and for their parents and carers.
2005
Winner of the SA Great Award recognising the outstanding contribution Youth Opportunities has made to young people in South Australia
2007
Sowing the seeds of success and happiness book for parents and carers of the young people in our programs.
2007
First regional licensed model delivered in Murray Bridge. The licensed model was developed to enable teachers or skilled community members to be trained to deliver the program, to broaden our reach into regional areas.
2009
29 programs 1,259 students – the largest school and graduate numbers in a year to this point.
2012
Marshman Foundation was established to enable continuous development of the program, best practice and ensure that the content is relevant to the young people we are working with. Work began on restructuring the program into a toolkit format to allow for more flexibility.
2015
New toolkit program roll-out.
New milestone 10,000 graduates have completed the Personal Leadership Program.
First Government House function acknowledging the principals and long term partnerships with their schools.
2016
Thrive online program development – tools were adapted for delivery in an online format.
2017
Launch of Thrive online program.
Government House reception for life members in recognition of service.
2018
New Personal Leadership Program manual, new branding symbolism and layout to make it more relevant to young people.
2020
Thrive Blended program developed in response to the global pandemic and the lockdowns.
2020
First blended programs delivered by YO trainers allowing many young people to still access the program. The results were outstanding.
2022
Development of upper primary program underway.
2023
Power-Up Program for students in upper primary was successfully piloted with outcomes showing students felt they were a better friend, more confident, less likely to bully others and someone who takes responsibility as a result of completing the program.