Twenty-six community organisations and local governments have been awarded a share of nearly $220,000 to engage and empower young people as part of the 2025-26 Youth Engagement Grants program.
Receiving grants of up to $10,000 each, this year’s recipients will be delivering projects that align with the WA Youth Action Plan 2024-2027 - Koorlangka Bidi by building the skills and capacity of young people aged 10 to 25, implementing a youth-led initiative to benefit the local community, or establishing a Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
Ranging from the Kimberley to the Great Southern, some of this year’s recipients include:
- Shire of Cunderdin’s STRIVE Youth Program, a regional youth initiative that will support young people to actively engage in their community.
- The Peel Volunteer Resource Centre which will establish a YAC to empower young people aged 12 to 25 to shape upcoming youth volunteering initiatives.
- Joombarn-buru Aboriginal Corporation for its Drive and Thrive project, which will support young Aboriginal people at risk of disengagement to gain a driver’s licence, essential life skills and a vocational skillset.
- Shire of Northam which will develop a youth-led, community-informed Youth Action Plan that will guide engagement and service delivery across Northam and surrounding areas.
- Shire of East Pilbara which will engage young people from the region in a year-long program of leadership development, skill-building and community connection.
The 2025-26 Youth Engagement Grants marks the fifth consecutive year the program has been supporting organisations to make a difference to young people in WA.
President of the Belmont Saints Squash & Sports Club, Lyn Chandler, said that being awarded a grant last year allowed the club to support its young people to gain formal qualifications and build their skills.
"The 2025 Youth Engagement Grant provided an opportunity to improve the skills of our young people, assist them to achieve accreditations and qualifications, and equip them for volunteer and paid roles within our sporting community," she said.
Belmont Saints Squash & Sports Club member, Teagan Scott, has benefited directly.
"Thanks to the Grant, I have been able to attain my Coaching and Officiating qualifications and I can now help with teaching the younger kids how to play," she said. "Coaching is fun, and I get to give back and support my local Club as a Volunteer."
The WA Youth Engagement Grants Program is open annually to organisations that meet the eligibility criteria and deliver their projects in WA.
More information about the WA Youth Engagement Grants Program including previous recipients can be found on the WA Youth Engagement Grants Program - recipient page.
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