Ideas often start small. When shared, they are strengthened. When grounded in purpose, they gain momentum. And when they bring people together, they can become the foundation for meaningful, positive change.
What transforms an idea into something lasting is the collective effort that follows - people and organisations aligning around a shared cause, continuing to build momentum over time, and committing to long‑term outcomes for their community. Through this combination of purpose and partnership, ideas can grow into movements, and impact is amplified.
This journey is one I have experienced through the evolution of the Hawaiian Ride for Youth.
Nearly 25 years ago, a small group of cyclists from Perth’s business community came together with a simple idea: to ride together and raise funds for Youth Focus. At the time, I was the CEO at Hawaiian and we became involved, recognising the strength of the idea and the importance of backing it for the long term.
The inaugural Hawaiian Ride for Youth took place in 2003, with just 24 riders. This March, more than 134 riders and 40 support crew undertook the 700‑kilometre journey from Albany to Perth. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into one of Western Australia’s most enduring examples of a values‑led partnership.
While the Ride has grown significantly over time, its purpose has remained unchanged: supporting young people to access the mental health care they need to thrive. That purpose matters now more than ever.
In Western Australia, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24, accounting for more than one‑third of deaths in this age group. This sobering reality reinforces the critical importance of accessible mental health services.
As Western Australia’s only youth‑specialist non-government mental health service, Youth Focus has seen demand increase as more young people seek support to navigate their mental health journey. This support is of pivotal importance, as evidence shows that early intervention leads to improved long‑term outcomes, reducing the need for crisis and emergency responses later in life.
From the outset, Hawaiian’s partnership with Youth Focus was built on a shared understanding: supporting youth mental health is not something that can be addressed through short‑term thinking. It requires sustained commitment, trust and action over time.
That commitment reflects Hawaiian’s mission to drive genuine change and a belief in building strong, connected communities, which is reflected through its enduring 25-year partnership with Youth Focus and the Hawaiian Ride for Youth.
This philosophy is also shaped by Hawaiian’s role as a business. Every day, through the ownership and operation of 11 shopping centres across Perth, we see the role that place plays in community wellbeing. When people feel supported, communities become more connected, inclusive and resilient. Viewed through that lens, investing in youth mental health is not separate from our role as a business; it is an extension of it and a shared responsibility.
Since 2003, the sustained commitment behind the Hawaiian Ride for Youth has helped raise more than $38 million for Youth Focus, enabling the delivery of free, specialist mental health services across the state, enabling thousands of young people access care at a critical time in their lives.
Supporting the Ride reflects our belief that business can, and should, play a meaningful role in addressing complex social challenges. Not through one-off initiatives, but through long-term values-led partnerships that deliver measurable, lasting impact.
This commitment has been deeply personal for me as well.
I served on the Youth Focus Board from 2004 to 2011, including three years as Deputy Chair, and returned to the Board in 2025. I have seen up close the difference that consistent, long‑term corporate support can make to the young people whose lives are changed.
As Youth Focus CEO Derry Simpson has said, this partnership goes well beyond sponsorship.
“Hawaiian’s partnership and commitment have been truly extraordinary, for 25 years,” Ms Simpson says.
“To have a partner stand beside us at that level, for this long, is incredibly rare. This goes well beyond sponsorship. It’s a values driven partnership.”
“Without Hawaiian’s long-term commitment, we simply would not be able to support the number of young people we do today. It’s a powerful example of how purposeful corporate partnerships can directly change lives,” Ms Simpson said.
As the Hawaiian Ride for Youth approaches its 25‑year milestone in 2027, its evolution offers a clear lesson. In the face of complex social challenges, meaningful impact takes time.
With shared values, mutual trust and long‑term commitment, partnerships can achieve far more together than any organisation can alone. And sometimes, the most enduring contributions are guided by the simplest principle of all.
People often ask me why, at Hawaiian, we choose to give in this way.
For me, the answer is simple. Because it’s the right thing to do.
