Empowering the Next Generation: Inside JT Academy’s Youth Programs
Across Australia, many young people face barriers that can shape the course of their lives—disengagement from school, lack of employment opportunities, mental health struggles, and the weight of intergenerational disadvantage. These challenges are particularly felt by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where systemic inequities continue to limit potential.
The Johnathan Thurston Academy (JT Academy) stands as a powerful force for change. Founded by rugby league legend and community advocate Johnathan Thurston, the Academy delivers youth-focused programs that are transforming lives through confidence, cultural pride, resilience, and practical skills. With a vision to build a stronger Australia, JT Academy is empowering the next generation—one young person at a time.
Building Strength from the Inside Out
At the core of every JT Academy initiative lies a belief in young people’s ability to thrive when they’re equipped with the right tools: self-belief, courage, and a support network that truly sees them. The Academy’s programs don’t just prepare youth for the future—they help them reclaim their identity, own their journey, and step forward with confidence.
JT Academy takes a strengths-based, culturally safe approach. Rather than focusing on what young people lack, the programs focus on what they already have: community connection, resilience, creativity, and the ability to lead. These values are nurtured through mentoring, storytelling, practical workshops, and consistent encouragement.
JTBelieve: Empowering Through Purpose
JTBelieve is one of the Academy’s flagship programs. Delivered in schools, it helps young people set meaningful goals, reflect on their strengths, and learn life skills like teamwork, communication, and self-awareness. Young participants are guided through a journey of personal discovery—learning how to face challenges with courage and how to visualise a better future.
Facilitated by mentors like Tali and Keu, the sessions are culturally inclusive, emotionally safe, and interactive. Students are encouraged to create SMART goals, engage in group activities, and reflect on themes like kindness and leadership. This approach has been praised for improving school engagement and helping students reframe their identity with pride and possibility.
JTLeadLikeAGirl: Growing Young Women into Leaders
JTLeadLikeAGirl is a dynamic program tailored for high-school-aged young women. Delivered across a 10-week school term, the program focuses on personal growth, resilience, digital safety, and leadership. Participants engage in weekly one-hour sessions filled with discussion, goal-setting exercises, and leadership challenges.
The outcomes speak volumes. Young women leave the program with stronger communication skills, a better understanding of boundaries, and increased self-worth. Many participants return to mentor the next cohort, creating a cycle of empowerment and leadership that builds peer networks and long-lasting support.
The program is particularly impactful in regional communities, where young women may face additional pressures related to gender, culture, and geography. By focusing on voice, vision, and validation, JTLeadLikeAGirl is helping the next generation of young women walk taller and aim higher.
JTSucceed: A Pathway to Employment
JTSucceed is the Academy’s employment readiness program designed to equip young people with the practical skills and confidence to enter the workforce. Especially valuable for youth in remote and regional areas, the program is hands-on, relatable, and designed in collaboration with employers.
Participants receive support with resume writing, cover letters, and interview preparation. They also participate in weekly workshops and check-ins designed to build soft skills like communication, adaptability, and professionalism. The program includes face-to-face and online options and often features motivational visits from Johnathan Thurston himself, reminding participants of their potential and the power of self-belief.
One of the standout features of JTSucceed is its focus on mentorship. Graduates often return to support new participants, and many receive guidance from corporate mentors from organisations like Evolution Mining. These relationships bridge the gap between community and career and create genuine job pathways for young people.
JTYouGotThis: Early Intervention for At-Risk Youth
For youth at risk of entering the justice system, JTYouGotThis is a lifeline. This program focuses on restoring a young person’s sense of self-worth, belonging, and control over their future. Through culturally grounded mentoring and emotional skill-building, participants reconnect with their identity, their values, and their goals.
The JTYouGotThis model addresses risk factors before they escalate. Sessions involve storytelling, cultural engagement, and reflection to help young people process trauma, develop emotional resilience, and make positive choices. It’s not about discipline—it’s about belief. When youth are empowered to understand their worth, they’re far more likely to disengage from risky behaviours and reengage with education, family, and community.
This program aligns with best practice in youth justice prevention, showing that culturally safe support and consistent mentoring can shift behaviour, reduce recidivism, and improve community wellbeing.
The Power of Mentorship
Mentorship is a thread that runs through every JT Academy initiative. Whether it’s peer-to-peer mentoring in school, community Elders sharing cultural wisdom, or industry mentors guiding young job-seekers, these relationships have a profound impact.
Young people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and believed in. JT Academy’s model ensures that every participant is surrounded by mentors who walk alongside them, not ahead of them. Graduates from JTLeadLikeAGirl and JTSucceed are often the first to put their hands up to help others, creating a ripple effect that builds leadership and connection across generations
Corporate mentors also play a powerful role, offering workplace insights, sharing life experiences, and encouraging confidence in navigating professional spaces. These relationships not only build job-readiness but also foster networks that support long-term growth and success.
Culture at the Centre
What sets JT Academy apart is its unwavering commitment to cultural connection. Each program is embedded with respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, stories, and practices. Sessions often begin with Acknowledgement to Country, and Elders are invited to guide conversations and share wisdom.
This cultural grounding provides young people with a sense of identity and belonging. It validates their experiences and reminds them that their heritage is a source of strength. Research has consistently shown that culturally safe learning environments lead to better outcomes in mental health, academic engagement, and community connectedness. JT Academy lives this truth every day.
Outcomes That Speak for Themselves
JT Academy’s impact is tangible and backed by data. Participants report higher levels of self-confidence, improved relationships at home and school, better communication skills, and increased aspirations for the future.
Schools report improved attendance and engagement. Families see shifts in behaviour, motivation, and resilience. Employers notice stronger job-readiness and a positive attitude in youth who’ve completed JTSucceed. And most importantly, the young people themselves feel empowered to make positive choices and lead their own journey.
The Academy also tracks long-term outcomes—monitoring job placements, school reengagement, and mentorship participation. The results continue to affirm that investing in young people works, especially when programs are built on respect, relationship, and readiness.
A Broader Ripple Effect
Empowering young people creates broader benefits across entire communities. Stronger youth means stronger families. Better engagement means safer communities. Young leaders create new pathways for others to follow. The ripple effect is cultural, economic, and emotional.
JT Academy’s work aligns with Australia’s wider commitments to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation. By supporting youth with culturally safe, community-led programs, we’re not only helping individuals—we’re shaping a better, fairer society.
The Academy also partners with schools, local councils, and corporate sponsors to extend its reach and maximise its impact. These partnerships allow for greater access, deeper program delivery, and stronger shared outcomes. For organisations seeking meaningful community engagement, JT Academy offers a trusted, proven model.
Looking Ahead
JT Academy continues to grow, expanding its team, refining its delivery, and building new partnerships across Australia. The future holds plans to deepen alumni engagement, extend digital program offerings, and build new community hubs for mentoring and leadership.
With its commitment to impact measurement, evidence-informed practice, and culturally grounded mentoring, JT Academy is set to become one of the country’s most influential youth development organisations.
Final Thoughts
Empowering the next generation is not just a slogan—it’s a responsibility. JT Academy is answering that call with programs that are authentic, effective, and grounded in values. From classrooms to workplaces, from remote communities to city centres, the Academy is changing the narrative for thousands of young Australians.
Through confidence. Through culture. Through care.
Because when young people believe in themselves, everything becomes possible.
