Kela Foundation Partners With IBFF To Support Young People

Since July 2025, Kela Foundation’s support has enabled the Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation (IBFF) to deliver its Onwards & Upwards mentoring and wellbeing program across seven school communities, supporting a total of 73 young people in Queensland with mentoring, practical life skills, wellbeing support, and early pathway-to-work conversations.

This includes 30 young people across three school locations between July and December 2025, and 43 young people across four school communities in Term 1, 2026.

Across both reporting periods, students demonstrated growth in:

• confidence and self-esteem
• self-belief and hope for the future
• emotional awareness and reflection
• trust in supportive adults
• peer relationships and connection
• motivation to succeed in school and life, and
• goal setting and future-focused thinking.

In the July–December 2025 report:

• 100% of participants reported that the program increased their motivation to succeed in school and life
• 100% of mentors indicated they would recommend the program to others and expressed interest in returning.

These results show the value of sustained, relationship-based support that helps young people build confidence, connection, and clearer future pathways.

The Kela Foundation was founded in February 2017 by Malcolm (Mal) Roy Smith. Mal established the foundation to give underprivileged children and their communities access to the same opportunities that were afforded to him as a child in Australia.

Kela Foundation partners with vulnerable families across Australia, helping children and their communities receive the education services they need to succeed in the future.