A gap year with a difference

“Year 13 is shaping the whole purpose of why I do everything around Jesus, so in the future whether I’m studying or working, I’ll know how to do these things for the glory of God.”

Like many 18-year-olds, Matty Seeto has chosen to do a gap year after finishing high school in 2025. However, his isn’t the usual 12-month ‘travel-work-party’ plan some school leavers do. Matty, who lives with his family on Sydney’s northern beaches, is one of the 111 students enrolled in Youthworks’ Year 13 Christian gap year program in 2026.

During this ‘year for life’, students spend 2 days a week at the Year 13 campus in Loftus (in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire), studying God’s word together, being mentored and developing their ministry skills. These skills are then applied practically as students serve 2 days a week in their local church ministries. The Year 13 program also allows time for students to undertake part-time paid employment.

This year, Matty is involved in teaching years 1-3 Kids Church, as well as training a new leader who has just joined this team. He will also begin high school SRE teaching from term 2, after completing his SRE training modules during term 1. Matty has a heart for high school ministry and plans to study to become a TAS (Technological and Applied studies) teacher. He shares,

“I have a real love for public schools, as there's something beautiful about students genuinely not knowing the message of Christ and having a true curiosity of hearing this message for the first time.”

When Matty was in year 11, God put it on his heart to start a Christian lunchtime group with a friend. They got permission from the school principal, organised a location and time, and then invited people along. Each Friday lunchtime they had food together, read the Bible, prayed and shared Jesus with other students.

And the evangelising didn’t stop there! Matty says,

“When I went to Schoolies Week (after finishing year 12) people would ask me what I was doing after high school, so I got to tell them about Year 13 —how I’d be spending two days a week studying the Bible. That opened up lots of conversations with them, especially as school leavers are all wrestling with life and questioning things.”

Matty’s ultimate goal for his Year 13 experience is to grow in his love for Jesus, reflecting the love that was first shown to him. He’s open to working in full-time ministry in the future if God calls him to that. For now, he’s excited to see how ministry life works in his local church context.

And his advice to anyone who’s considering a Christian gap year?

“The Year 13 community is awesome as people are really friendly. Having attended a public school, it’s sometimes a bit overwhelming for me to be surrounded by people in my age group who speak so openly about Jesus! As a follower of Jesus, it’s very important for me to have a strong Christian community of peers of a similar age.”

Keen to know more about Year 13? Go to the next Open Day on 23 May to meet the staff, tour the campus and ask your questions about the program.