Class of 2020: You Got This!

For the past 21 years, Encounter Youth, a not-for-profit Health Promotion Charity, has been supporting young people to make a positive difference in the world.

Encounter Youth is renowned for its annual management of the South Australian Schoolies Operation, the Hindley Street Program, and for being the largest provider of alcohol & other drug education to SA secondary schools.

Encounter Youth Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Knowles recognises that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on Year 12s with many of their expectations of the normal flow of their year being totally changed or removed.

“Regular school assemblies, sports days, excursions and formals have been some of the many expected events that have been impacted or cancelled for Year 12s.”

“Year 12 is commonly referred to as the most important year of your life and this sets up young people to go through the year with significant pressure, stress and expectation,” said Mr. Knowles.

“This has left many Year 12 students feeling uncertain and bewildered about this monumental year, with a concern that it could adversely affect their final academic performance.”

“In response, Encounter Youth are launching You Got This!™ a new online platform to provide support, encouragement and resources to help the Year 12s to finish this year strong.

“The initiative will feature video interviews of high-profile members of the community sharing their Year 12 experience along with their advice and encouragement for the class of 2020.

“We want to send the class of 2020 a clear message that the community of South Australia is behind them and no matter what happens: You Got This!”

“Our young people are the future of South Australia, so we want to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on them and support them to succeed this year and beyond,” said Mr. Knowles.