- Twenty-six community organisations and local governments to receive 2025-26 Youth Engagement Grants
- Successful recipients to share in nearly $220,000 to deliver projects that engage and empower young people
- More than half of grants to support regional and remote communities
The Cook Government has awarded nearly $220,000 to support projects that engage and empower young people as part of the 2025-26 Youth Engagement Grants Program.
Twenty-six organisations will share in the funding to deliver a diverse range of events, workshops and programs across Western Australia.
To be awarded a grant, recipients were required to demonstrate alignment with the WA Youth Action Plan 2024-2027 by building the skills and capacity of young people, implementing a youth-led initiative to benefit the community, or establishing a Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
Some of the organisations set to benefit include:
- Shire of Cunderdin for its STRIVE Youth Program, a regional youth initiative that will support young people to respect themselves and others, inspire positive choices, value safe behaviours, and actively engage in their community;
- Peel Volunteer Resource Centre, which will establish a Youth Advisory Council to empower young people aged 12-25 to shape youth volunteering initiatives. The YAC will foster leadership, amplify youth voices, and promote inclusive community engagement through quarterly meetings, training, and collaborative projects;
- Joombarn-buru Aboriginal Corporation in the Kimberley, for its Drive and Thrive project, which will empower young Aboriginal people at risk of disengagement by supporting them to gain a driver's licence, essential life skills, and a vocational skillset;
- West Perth District Umpires Association will be hosting a youth-focused seminar designed to build leadership, confidence, and practical skills among young umpires through interactive workshops and sessions led by professional guest speakers; and
- 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 centrepiece, a Youth Leadership Retreat, will be complemented by leadership workshops, mentoring sessions, and youth-led projects.
The annual Youth Engagement Grants Program provides funding of up to $5,000 for short-term, one-off activities or initiatives, and up to $10,000 for community-wide initiatives.
The Cook Government is also supporting 42 organisations and local governments with a record $125,000 in grants to host events as part of Youth Week WA, held from 10 to 16 April 2026.
A full list of Youth Engagement Grants Program recipients can be found at www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/wa-youth-engagement-grants-program
As stated by Youth Minister Hannah Beazley:
"It is fantastic to support such an incredible range of projects and initiatives across Western Australia through our Youth Engagement Grants.
"Aligned with our WA Youth Action Plan, the grant recipients will amplify young voices and empower young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve their goals.
"These grants support young people to play an important part in building more inclusive communities in Western Australia."
