Funding boost to youth-led projects across NSW

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in the future of young people, with an additional $735,000 in grants to fund youth-led projects as the state celebrates NSW Youth Week 2025 from 9-17 April.

Sixteen organisations will receive up to $50,000 each to design and deliver projects under the Youth Opportunities program.

This is on top of the $1.5 million already delivered to 35 organisations in the 2024/25 funding round, which has supported a range of activities including cultural connection programs, creative arts workshops, self-defence classes, leadership camps, sporting activities and community engagement projects.

The grassroots projects are aimed at empowering and engaging young people aged 12-24 in their local communities.

The latest projects funded under the grants span the state and include sport, health and wellbeing, nutrition, art, music, podcasting, video production, life skills, financial literacy, and job readiness.

Young people are closely involved in the projects every step of the way, from identifying what their peers need, to workshopping the proposals and delivering the projects.

This innovative approach drives young people’s connection to their communities and provides an opportunity to forge leadership, communication, and management skills, helping them achieve their full potential.

Since it was first launched in 2012, the Youth Opportunities program has provided $19.8 million in funding and delivered 434 youth empowering projects across NSW.

The projects announced today will commence this year.

A full list of new recipients can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/youth-opportunities-program/previous-recipients/youth-opportunities-program-2024/25-round-13

Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said:

“The Youth Opportunities program delivers projects by young people for young people.

“I am thrilled to announce we’ve expanded this year’s program, with 16 additional grant recipients receiving grants to drive projects in their areas.

“From sport to mural making, these new projects will empower and engage young people, helping them connect with their communities and learn vital new skills to set them on a positive path for the future.” 

Steve Hancox from Multicultural Communities Council Of Illawarra said:

“The Youth Opportunities funding enabled us to engage with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in our community.

“As a result of our project, more young people built strong community networks and developed essential skills to navigate life’s challenges.

“It was fantastic to see the participants in our project thrive with an increased sense of self-confidence and belonging.”

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS:

Organisation	Project title	Primary location	Funding amount
Auburn Youth Centre	Sport, Wellbeing, Events and Teamwork Training (SWEATT)	Lidcombe	$47,294
Belong Blue Mountains	Pick 'n Mix: Connecting and Choice for Marginalised Young People	Blue Mountains	$50,000
Big Fat Smile	Ready, Set, Cook!	Bellambi	$49,600
Central Coast Council	Urban Art Mural Program	Central Coast	$29,000
Challenge Community Services	Voices of Youth in care	Tamworth	$47,000
Stitches Collection	Stitching Stories from Western Sydney	Sydney	$45,000
Griffith City Council	EmpowerYOUth2680	Griffith	$46,900
Gymea Community Aid & Information Service	Uniting Generations	Gymea	$48,521
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council	Illawarra Aboriginal Youth Leadership Development	Wollongong	$50,000
LeaderLife	LeaderLife with Life Skills	Dubbo	$50,000
PCYC Glebe-Leichhardt	Community Empowerment: Youth Peace and Sports Leadership	Forest Lodge	$50,000
Port Stephens Council	The Place Is Yours	Raymond Terrace	$50,000
SmartArts	Amplify	Kempsey	$39,500
Tamworth Regional Council	Youthie Grub Hub Training Opportunity Cafe	West Tamworth	$35,000
The Skill Engineer	Let’s Talk - Bean Bag Yarns	Colongra	$47,800
Youth Futures Network	LifeLaunch	Port Macquarie	$48,640