In this op-ed, UnLtd‘s CEO Philippa Moig reflects on her first six months in the role. Moig stepped into the role back in June, replacing Stephen Hunt.
Six months into this role, and I still struggle to find the words for how much this has changed me. I came into UnLtd with a full heart and a deep sense of responsibility — but nothing prepares you for the moments, the people and the stories you meet along the way.
From Armidale to Lake Cargelligo to Dubbo, something shifts when you sit with young people who’ve lived through more than most adults ever will — trauma, homelessness, grief, violence, survival.
And yet…They laugh. They create. They try again. They show courage on days most of us wouldn’t get out of bed.
They are funny, cheeky, brilliant and full of potential – even when the world has given them every reason to doubt it.
What I’ve witnessed is extraordinary: charity leaders wrapping around young people with the BackTrack spirit of “whatever it takes, for as long as it takes”. No judgement. Just safety, structure, consistency and opportunity.
I’ve watched kids find housing, gain independence, reconnect with culture, write music, weld, farm, build mental-fitness tools and rediscover their confidence. I’ve seen kindness change the trajectory of a life.
Most of all, I’ve seen the power of belief.
A young person’s life can shift because one person chooses to stay, to show up again and again, to see potential long before they can see it themselves.
These kids never needed fixing. They needed a fair start. They needed someone who wouldn’t give up on them.
And then there’s this industry…
This industry, our industry, continues to blow me away.
There is no UnLtd without you.
We exist because you care, because you show up, because you believe young people doing it tough deserve the same chance to thrive as anyone else.
Over countless yarns with leaders, creatives, planners, founders and newcomers, one thing has stood out: heart. Even in a challenging year, the generosity, passion and instinct to help have never wavered.
And here’s the truth: We hold enormous power — cultural, storytelling, platform power.
It is a privilege. And we have a responsibility to use it well.
And you have used it well.
You’ve leaned into the hard issues — youth mental health, homelessness, violence, grooming, incarceration — raising awareness where silence used to live. You’ve opened doors and created opportunities that wouldn’t exist without this community.
Every introduction, every volunteer hour, every conversation, every idea — it all matters. More than you know. We can’t do any of this without you. Your belief powers the impact.
Looking to 2026
When I think about next year, I think about connection.
Walking together — industry, charities and communities — in a way that truly honours the young people at the centre of all this.
What excites me is bringing us even closer: more moments where you feel the impact firsthand, more chances to learn from the strength of these kids, more space for your ideas, perspectives and magic.
Because the biggest shifts don’t come from grand gestures, they come from the small moments.
The shoulder tap. The “yes, I can help”. The idea that becomes life-changing for a young person.
2026 is about rising together.
So please keep leaning in. Keep reaching out. Keep believing in what we can do collectively.
Your creativity, your humanity, your care — they change lives. I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. I believe in it.
These six months have reminded me why this is one of the most powerful communities in the country — not because of budgets or awards, but because of the heart of the people inside it.
Here’s to the kids we stand beside.
Here’s to the charity partners who give everything, every day.
Here’s to you, the industry that makes this all possible.
Here’s to 2026 — a year of connection, courage and impact.
Thank you, truly, for walking this journey with us. We cannot, and will not, succeed without you.
