Realising Possibilities

– for communities, organisations, and individuals.

We are passionate about improving the wellbeing of our community. To achieve this we partner with government, community services, peak bodies and the people they serve to support rigorous planning, implementation and evaluation of policies, programs and projects.

How we work

We partner with our clients to tailor our approach

Because no two communities or organisations are the same, we recognise there’s no magic recipe for achieving effective outcomes. For each any every project, we work with our client to design an approach that considers the circumstances of their community and what is needed to achieve their goals.

We are guided by the evidence

All our work is guided by sound evidence – drawn from the past work of others and integrated with analysis and synthesis of data and insights from the project itself.

We are committed to making a difference

Because we are part of the communities we work for, we’re as invested as you are in delivering the best possible outcomes, that stand the test of time. We understand that achieving this requires flexibility in responding to the changing demands of projects as they unfold.

We never lose sight of our values

Our personal values and integrity mean everything to us and are reflected in our professional standards.

We are clear, responsive, transparent communicators

Our collaborative approach is enabled by open and honest communication with clients and our skills facilitating successful conversations with and between people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

We champion codesign & lived experience leadership

Many years of experience has shown us that codesign and including people with lived experience as equals in every stage of an initiative is not just the respectful way to work, but it offers the only path to accessing the insights and wisdom necessary for achieving meaningful and effective change.

We are invested in building capability

We recognise that every project provides opportunities for knowledge and skill development – for the community, for our clients, and for ourselves. By working closely with our clients and their stakeholders we not only ensure effective project design and delivery but provide the chance to maximise skill transfer.

What We Do

At Young Futures Consulting we bring skills and experience in a wide range of areas affecting the wellbeing of our community, including health, child development, child safety, disability, domestic and family violence, and justice.

I have had the pleasure of working with Gretchen, through Young Futures Consulting, for over a decade on numerous projects. Gretchen and her team are my first choice when it comes to research, evaluation, and facilitation. Young Futures has conducted evaluations including preparing project logics, evaluation plans, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and detailed reporting. The facilitation skills Gretchen brings to team planning sessions have been exceptional.

Gretchen’s approach was exactly what we needed - calm and measured, and she really listened to what was required for the project. She completed the work with a trauma informed approach and successfully engaged with senior executives, board members and community stakeholders who have lived experience of trauma. Her background knowledge of the sector and its complexities, along with her quick understanding of the complex project-specific environment, meant we got a high-quality report based in the reality of what was achievable.

Who we are

Young Futures Consulting is led by Gretchen Young, a foresight practitioner, facilitator, and evaluator.

Gretchen supports organisations to complete visioning and planning with a medium to long view and assists with policy and program design, implementation, review and evaluation.