We will be offering over 1,600 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.
Application outcomes will be available in mid-late May 2025 and notifications will be sent to the registered email address. Schools of successful students will also be notified.
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 for the 2025 academic year have closed.
Details for the 2026 academic year will be available in mid-October.
How do I apply?
Applications are completed online. The application portal is currently closed.
Can I reapply as a returning applicant for a scholarship?
Yes, students who received a scholarship previously can re-apply as a returning applicant if they are still in social housing and taking on further studies.
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?
