Youth Opportunities Program

Up to $1.5 million is available for incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local Councils in NSW to apply for a grant between $10,000 and $50,000 to deliver a new Youth Opportunities project.

Projects which are genuinely youth-led and youth-driven are those initiated by young people and based on what they have said they need.

Project themes have been suggested based on what young people have told the government and other organisations about what is important to them:

• community inclusion and participation
• COVID-19 recovery
• cultural identity and connection
• cyber safety and awareness
• domestic and family violence
• healthy relationships
• financial literacy (budgeting, rent, phone, contracts, fines)
• health and wellbeing
• homelessness and housing
• natural disasters (preparedness, resilience and recovery).

Youth Opportunities projects may seek to address one or more of these issues, or they may address other issues raised by marginalised young people, which are important to them and their local communities.

Applicant organisations must engage marginalised young people in the initial ‘Identifying the need’ stage of the project to ensure the project is responsive to their needs.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations operating in NSW and NSW Local Councils are invited to apply. Applications are submitted via SmartyGrants. 

Download documents to help you with your grant application.

• Program Guidelines (PDF 1.62MB)
• Program Logic (PDF 168.95KB)
• Steps for writing a grant application
• Help Guide for applicants
• Frequently asked questions (PDF 440.29KB)
• 2022 Youth Opportunities Program Evaluation - Key Insights (PDF 264.34KB)