The YMCA Bankstown takes on the YMCA’s goals and values, which are consistent through out all YMCA canters nation wide. “ The YMCA works from a base of Christian values to provide opportunities for all people to grow in body mind and spirit.” The YMCA is always trying to increase its role with in the community and strives to continue to act as the country leading body in “the healthy development of all individuals, strengthening families and developing caring communities. The YMCA is a Christian Organization and will continue to express this through all their programs and activities in a practical way. All the programs that the YMCA offer are based on improving “body, mind and spirit” in a completely non discriminatory environment providing activities for and catering for people of all races religions and also providing for people with disabilities. The YMCA exists to serve the Community by offering programs using highly skilled and qualified staff with the use of first-rate equipment and facilities.

In Australia YMCA employees 5427 people but also has but the effective running of the centres wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of volunteers. The YMCA encourages working together as a team for the running of the centres and the participants in the programs of the centre. The administration staffs of a YMCA centre require sound training, proper remuneration and modern practices. The financial management of YMCA centres is also essential for the effective running of the centre although financial maximisation is not a primary goal of the YMCA. YMCA in Australia will continue to grow and expand through membership program participation and volunteer work.

Although YMCA’s in Australia have an annual turn over of $77080000 all YMCA’s act as non profit organizations and any surplus that the centre has at the end of the year will be channelled back into the organization or be given to less financially sound centres. A volunteer board of directors controls the YMCA. In Australia there are 44 boards of directors with an average of 9 directors per board. The YMCA employees personnel in all the areas of its different programs. There are few full time positions it is most common to be part time or casual work. A summery of this information is shown below

There is often positions available for casual work in the programs run at the Bankstown centre example gym instructors. There are rarely full time positions available and when a position become open or is created it is usually filled internally. To obtain a full tome position at a YMCA centre it is often necessary to enter at a lower level and work up to a full time paid position. The day care and child care programs at the Bankstown centre employee several full time fully qualified personnel. They also employee one operations manager or general manager to oversee the smooth running of the centre, there is also paid administration staff. Bankstown YMCA has a volunteer team that assist in fundraising and activities for the YMCA. There is always a need for volunteers in; Activity specific areas: gym instructors, centre committees, leaders on holiday camps, volunteer visits with elderly people in aged care facilities, assisting people with disabilities in accessing mainstream recreational facilities.

There is potential for a work placement at the Bankstown YMCA. They provide for one placement a year and there is currently no one confirmed for the placement in 2004. During the placement the applicant will be give set tasks and will assist in the running of the centre and the centres activities. This could be a very worthwhile and productive placement.

Additional information was obtained at http://www.ymca.org.au/