We will be offering up to 1,500 scholarships to students enrolled in education or training in 2025. Successful applicants will receive $1,000 to help with school expenses and secondary support services.
Can I apply?
You are eligible to apply if you are:
Studying in Year 10, 11 or 12 in NSW at one of the following in 2025:
- NSW high school
- equivalent at a TAFE college
- home schooling
- doing a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship
You must also be either a social housing client or living in out-of-home care, this can include:
- living in public housing, including Aboriginal housing
- being on the NSW Housing Register (wait list)
- receiving a private rental subsidy from DCJ (not Centrelink)
- living in community housing/Aboriginal community housing
- living in housing provided by a Local Aboriginal Land Council
- living in supported, crisis or temporary accommodation
- living in statutory, supported or voluntary out-of-home care.
When can I apply?
Applications will open at 9am, 21 October 2024
For New and Returning high school students, applications will close 21 February 2025
For Returning tertiary students, applications will close 14 March 2025
How do I apply?
Applications are completed online. Click on click here to register or log in.
Can I reapply as a returning applicant for a scholarship?
Yes, students who received a scholarship between 2017 to 2024 can reapply as a returning applicant if they are still in social housing and taking on further studies in 2025.
What can I use the scholarship for?
The scholarship funds must be used for educational or support related costs to help you complete the school year.
Examples of items or services which can be purchased with the scholarship include (but not limited to):
Primary Support
- Uniform, shoes and specialist clothing (including apron, sports equipment, safety shoes etc.)
- Course costs, subject/elective fees
- Materials/equipment for elective (e.g. music, art, food technology, hospital, science
- Equipment etc.)
- Tutoring
- School organised excursions, study camps, school sporting activities
- Textbooks, workbooks, study guides
- Stationery (notebooks, folders, pens etc.)
- Technology (e.g. laptop, personal computer, tablet, printer, scanner etc.)
Secondary Support
- Internet
- Furniture (e.g. study desk, chair, footrest etc.)
- Transport costs (e.g. Opal card, driving lessons, fuel voucher etc.)
- Health and wellbeing costs (e.g. glasses, mobility aids, speech therapy and devices,
- counselling etc.)
- Social inclusion (e.g. formal attire, formal ticket)
- Training and employment (e.g. CV writing, interview skills, clothing for work etc.)
What can’t the Youth Development Scholarship be used for?
The funds cannot be used to:
- purchase mobile phones, smart watches, gaming equipment and other wireless communication devices
- pay for school fees, but can be used towards resources, elective or course costs
- pay for items that can be provided through other financial assistance programs offered by the school
- pay for any expenses relating to siblings who are not scholarship recipients
- transfer remaining funds to another student.
What material can I use to promote the Scholarships program?
Where can I find out more information?
