Founded by police and citizens. Trusted for 69 years.
Canberra PCYC was founded in 1957 by police officers and citizens who wanted to make a practical difference in young lives. Nearly seventy years on, that is still the whole idea.
An original invitation to a Club social evening, Turner ACT, December 1960.
From a clubhouse in Turner to programs across the territory
What began with sport and social evenings in Turner has grown into one of the ACT's leading independent service platforms for vulnerable young people and their families — diversion, early intervention, family case management and employment pathways, alongside a community fitness centre open to everyone.
Today we operate from our Erindale Centre in Canberra's south and our head office and training facility at Fairbairn, a former wartime RAAF hospital opened by our patron, the Governor-General. Our next chapter, the redevelopment of our original Turner site, will expand what we can offer the community for generations.
We are guided by an independent board, our members, and three values shared by everyone who walks through our doors: Engage. Belong. Respect.
“PCYC have given me confidence, and the belief that I'm accepted as who I am.” Canberra PCYC client
An organisation built to be checked
Canberra PCYC became a Company Limited by Guarantee on 25 March 2025, converting from an Incorporated Association under a new constitution. It was a deliberate step: the structure a funder, a government partner or a referring agency needs to see before they can commit.
Independent board
The organisation is governed by an independent board elected by its members, with a chief executive responsible for operations. Members elect the committee, which is one of the quieter reasons a membership matters.
Published outcomes
We measure what our programs achieve and publish it annually rather than describing it in general terms. The figures below are from the 2024–25 report, and the report itself is available in full.
From our 2024–25 Annual Report
All figures from the Canberra PCYC Annual Report 2024–25.
Concept note — not site copyOn the production site these figures and the report's key findings would sit on this page as readable text, with the full report available to download alongside them. Today they exist only inside a downloadable PDF. A funder skimming on a phone has to download it first, and the page itself carries almost nothing a search engine can match to a query.
People who lend us their name
Our patron is the Governor-General, who opened our Fairbairn office and training facility. Our ambassadors are Anj Barker OAM and Troy Herfoss.