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 |