DATE: November 6. 6pm @ Canberra Rex
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The prom, colloquially known as the Formal here in Australia, is an unforgettable moment in the lives of many.
It signals the end of an entire chapter of life, most party-goers ready to finish school and scale the upcoming mountains that are university and job applications. Balloons, friends, and party music that is just a little too age-appropriate make up the vibrant memories these young adults go on to remember forever.
Yet, for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, prom can stir up memories of rejection, social isolation, and marginalisation. Because prom has a heavy emphasis on bringing dates, some find themselves mourning those they could not bring for fear of rejection, whilst others find themselves in romantic relationships they do not enjoy. Prom just wasn’t built for them. That’s where the YCWA steps in.
Equality Comes with Love
With a mission of achieving gender equity by strengthening communities and empowering women, it is easy to assume that the YCWA has little interest in the LGBTQIA+ community, but that is far from the case. The group has deep feminist roots, and the association believes in “equality of opportunity, rights and access to social, cultural and economic wellbeing for all” in their community.
Having hosted their first queer-celebratory prom in 2016, the group recently held their tenth anniversary prom, filling an entire auditorium with joyous kids. Each year, a new theme is decided to create a fun atmosphere and spur on some eclectic clothing. Such themes have included wonderland, masquerade, and gothic. This year, the theme selected was ‘Wild West’, allowing diversity to spread even through ideas. One may try on a Chappell Roan-inspired outfit whereas someone else may simply put on their spurs, a hat, and get ready to party! In the end, that freedom is in the hands of the kids who take it.
What’s On?
Like with every formal, the main point of the event is to have fun! As such, the prom holds a variety of facilities for keeping everyone entertained! The event is catered mainly to pre-existing friend groups, but it is still possible and encouraged to befriend others during the formal! One of the ways this can happen is at the arts and crafts table! There are often hundreds of stickers up for grabs, as well as a pin maker for creating lots of little badges to show off your pride, or some nice artwork! There are also lots of bits and bobs, and craft supplies brought from home are allowed, so at the arts and crafts table, you can essentially make anything! You could even work on an older project, achieving much-needed progress and having access to an easy conversation starter!
If an attendee does already have a group of friends ready, there is also the everpresent whimsy of the photobooth. It has its own attendants, as well as a variety of props to make the experience as entertaining as possible. The booth itself, more of a small wall with a special machine attached, allows larger groups to squeeze in, with enough printed polaroids for everyone!
Then of course is the dance floor, a staple for every formal. The attendants are far from shy and will undoubtedly rip it up on the dancefloor. The music tends to be enjoyable, rather than what’s popular at the time or safe. The YWCA even sends out a form to participants to decide what songs to put on the playlist, and with a little convincing, the DJ may take a request.
However, the stand out events of the formal are the performers. Though these performers have not been announced yet during the 2025 event, a local up-and-coming youth band ‘Scarlet Fever’ was allowed to take centre stage, surprising the crowd with some stunning rock music. Assuming the trend of the last two years stays true, it is also likely there will be a drag show performed by the lovely dancers of Phish and Phreak! There were some star performers last year, so hopefully the show is just as great! And, once again for safety reasons, all of the activities and performances are reviewed by YWCA Canberra, to make sure the material is appropriate for younger audiences.
And if crowds and music are a little too much, the venue offers quiet areas, such as an outside section or monitored rooms, so participants do not get overstimulated. Food will also be provided, with a buffet of options to cater to different allergies and dietary restrictions. Finally, teams of security, first-aid officers, and trained chaperones will be present to make certain the event is safe and ready to deal with any problems that may arise.
That being said, to keep the event safe, the use of drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited, including the use of cigarettes and vapes. In the interest of maintaining this safety, it should be noted that attendees are allowed to leave the event at any time, but there will be no re-entry after exiting. It may also be wise to keep valuables away from the event as YWCA claims no responsibility for theft, loss, or damage. Finally, the event is supposed to be welcoming and inclusive, so anti-social and disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated.
What There is to Know
The YCWA takes pride in hosting a prom where people can finally “just be people”, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for all attendees. And the best part? The event is entirely free to access! So long as attendees RSVP when the emails are sent and the links are posted to the official YWCA Canberra Youth Instagram page, kids aged 15-21 are allowed free access to food, music, and a variety of other fun amenities!
And, if you are outside of the designated age group, but still want to help, the Prom Committee for 2026 is open to new voices, hosting a gathering once a month at the Woden Youth Centre. This group helps create the prom by choosing the themes, creating the decorations, and picking the winners for the prom awards!
These awards are granted to members of the community, specifically the young adults attending the prom. They are awarded for general contributions to the queer community, artistic and creative contributions, as well as being empowered and empowering others. These awards are given to encourage the youth to help the communities around them whilst also commemorating the actions that have already taken place.
Finally, if you like the idea but can’t spare the time to actively participate with the prom committee, you can donate and cover the cost of an attendees. For every hundred dollars, a new person is allowed to express themself during the time of their life. Donate here.
We love amplifying local events with purpose in Canberra. Have an event coming up? Email us hello@purposemediacbr.au
