$250,000 in grants to support projects enabling young people living in regional NSW to lead and participate in youth radio and podcasting activities. Applications are now closed.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $10,000 to $25,000
- Application opened: 7 November 2022
- Application closed: 2 December 2022, 4:00 pm
Program objective
The 2023 Regional Youth Radio Program aims to increase young people’s participation in activities that strengthen their opportunities for connection and belonging to their communities. The 2023 Regional Youth Radio Program supports organisations to empower young people to design and deliver projects, enabling them to:
- have a greater sense of voice, and feel a sense of choice and control in their lives
- participate in youth-led and youth-driven community outcomes
- address and overcome barriers to participating in the community
- build community-based partnerships and networks
- feel a greater sense of connection and belonging within their community
- feel empowered, as their ideas and opinions are respected, considered, and acted upon
- gain relevant training to support their participation
- feel more confident within themselves and their abilities, having expanded their knowledge and skills
- seek further opportunities to participate and stay engaged in their community
- strengthen connections with their Aboriginal culture and identity.
The 2023 Regional Youth Radio Program aligns with the pillars of the Regional NSW Youth Framework. The dedicated funding allocation for Aboriginal projects is in line with the Department of Regional NSW Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy.
The Regional Youth Radio pilot program
The first Regional Youth Radio program opened on Thursday 9 December, 2021. It was administered by the Department of Communities and Justice in partnership with the Office for Regional Youth.
In April 2022, 15 regional projects were funded by the Regional Youth Radio pilot program. Projects funded through this program were completed by June 2023.
You can see the successful recipients of both rounds of the Regional Youth Radio program under Most recent recipients.
Pilot program information and resources
The following resources and tools were available to support potential applicants with their applications:
File
2021 Regional Youth Radio Program Guidelines (PDF 665.27KB)- List of eligible regional NSW LGAs (PDF 158.17KB)
This program is funded and administered by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible organisations must be one of the following:
- an incorporated entity and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or incorporated under an Australian federal, state or territory Act of Parliament.
- a regional university or TAFE college.
- an eligible NSW Council, including:
- NSW regional councils (see Appendix A – Regional NSW Local Government Areas)
- NSW regional joint organisations of councils
- Section 355 Committees of Council. Section 355 Committees of Councils must apply in the name of the relevant Council and must have permission to apply.
To be considered, applicants must also:
- be located within an eligible LGA (see Appendix A – Regional NSW Local Government Areas)
- hold or be able and willing to purchase at least $20 million in public liability insurance for the duration of the project
Who can’t apply
You should not apply for this grant if you are:
- a Council of Greater Sydney, Wollongong or Newcastle areas
- a Commonwealth or State Government agency
- an individual or sole trader
- an unincorporated organisation
- a commercial and/or for-profit organisation
- a school (including P&Cs)
- a sub-contractor engaged to manage or deliver the project onbehalf of a non-eligible organisation.
Example projects
- Minor capital works or equipment purchases to upgrade youth radio sound studios.
- Minor equipment purchases to support the development, recording and broadcasting of youth podcast series.
- Short courses, training and skills development for young people in radio broadcasting, radio program development, podcast development and broadcasting.
- Regional Youth Radio Program development.
- Youth podcast series development.
- First Nations cultural storytelling or intergenerational connection program.
- Aboriginal language educational podcast or program.
What you can't apply for
- Religious festivals, rituals, events or promotions, except multi-faith events which involve young people from more than one religion.
- Major capital works (e.g. establishing or significantly refurbishing a youth radio station/radio station).
- Large equipment purchases (e.g. vehicles).
- Costs that are not directly associated with the implementation or delivery of the project.
- Operating expenses such as rent, insurance, electricity, water, rates or funding towards the running of other programs within the organisation.
- Existing projects or programs.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Download the 2023 Regional Youth Radio Program Guidelines (PDF 665.27KB) to check all eligibility requirements.
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Before you start your application, have you read the grant guidelines (PDF 665.27KB)?
- Will the project be genuinely youth-led? Do you have the support of young people in your community? Young people need to be involved at every stage of the project, from identifying the need, through to design, delivery and final review. Applicant organisations must have the capacity to encourage, support and facilitate a youth-led project.
- Are you an eligible organisation?
- Have you prepared a budget including any in-kind support or co-contributions?
- Is the project timeframe achievable?
- Have you prepared a project plan?
- Will this project be delivered in an Aboriginal community or for Aboriginal young people, and if it does, will it enhance young people’s connection with their culture and identity?
Address the eligibility criteria
Each application is assessed against the following eligibility criteria.
Eligible organisations must be one of the following:
- an incorporated entity and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or incorporated under an Australian federal, state or territory Act of Parliament
- a regional university or TAFE
- an eligible NSW Council, including:
- NSW regional councils (see Appendix A – Regional NSW Local Government Areas)
- NSW regional joint organisations of councils
- Section 355 Committees of Council. Section 355 Committees of Councils must apply in the name of the relevant Council and must have permission to apply.
To be considered, applicants must also:
- be located within an eligible LGA (see Appendix A – Regional NSW Local Government Areas)
- hold or be able and willing to purchase at least $20 million in public liability insurance for the duration of the project.
Address the assessment criteria
Applications will be considered against the assessment criteria and ranked against other applications. Assessments are conducted by an Assessment Panel.
- the project demonstrates young people’s meaningful input at every stage of the project (identifying the need, planning and design, delivery and final review and recognition).
- the project delivers new or enhanced existing programs, activities or services, or delivers existing program to new group/cohort of young people.
- the project improves young people's access to and inclusion in community by amplifying their voice.
- the project helps young people to overcome barriers to participation in their community.
- the project helps build young people’s knowledge and skills to participate in their community.
- the project recognises the contribution young people make to their local community.
- the project helps to build young people’s connections and networks within their local community.
- the project clearly demonstrates substantial benefits to young people compared with the total cost of the project.
- the project coordinates and works together with existing services, does not duplicate existing services. The proposal does not duplicate funding received elsewhere.
- the project timeframe for delivery is achievable.
- the applicant has demonstrated capacity to deliver this program.
- Aboriginal-focussed projects will enhance young people’s connection with their culture and identity.
- the project will result in at least 1.5 hours of broadcast content featuring youth voices.
- the project outcomes seek to address the priorities identified under the Work Ready or Community pillars in the NSW Government’s Regional Youth Insights.
After the application is submitted
- Applications will be considered against the assessment criteria and ranked against other applications. Assessments are conducted by an Assessment Panel and include an eligibility assessment and merit based assessment.
- A package of recommended projects that are within the program funding criteria will be provided to the Director, Office for Regional Youth for endorsement. These will then be provided to the Minister for Regional Youth for final approval.
- Please allow up to 12 weeks after applications close for advice regarding the outcome of your application.
- Successful applicants will be notified in writing by letter and/or email.
- Successful applicants will be published on the NSW Government’s website within 45 days of the final approval.
- Successful applicants will be required to provide all supporting documentation and approvals before the Department of Regional NSW can enter into a funding deed. This includes $20 million Public Liability Insurance.
- Specific reporting requirements will be advised once the grant is approved. Any unspent funds, or funds not expended in accordance with the Funding Agreement must be returned to the Department of Regional NSW.
Support and contact
For help preparing applications or further information please email regionalyouth@regional.nsw.gov.au