The Young and Resilient Research Centre (Y&R) is a Strategic Research Initiative hosted by the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) within the Division of Research, Enterprise, and International. 

Young & Resilient’s mission is to strengthen the resilience and wellbeing of young people and their communities by leveraging collaboration, generating evidence, and creating impact. Y&R is comprised of an interdisciplinary network of approximately 50 academic members from across Western Sydney University, as well as an international community of over 150 partner organisations. 

We have specialised expertise in engaged, youth-centred, and participatory research and have pioneered innovative and creative methods, tools and resources to enable the participation of children and young people in decision-making that affects their lives. 

Since 2014, our team has engaged over 8,000 children and young people from over 80 countries in research on topics such as health and wellbeing, digital participation, online safety, children’s rights, climate justice, political participation, and violence prevention. We aim to channel this evidence into policy, practice, programming, and products that shape positive outcomes for children and young people and enable them and their communities to live well and participate fully in social life.