Funding Win for Yarriambiack Shire Council – Building Youth Leadership

What We’ve Achieved

Yarriambiack Shire Council has secured $150,000 through the Engage! 2025–2027 program, supporting the delivery of a three-year youth leadership initiative designed to build confidence, wellbeing and active citizenship among young people aged 12–18.

Grantus worked closely with Council and the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation to shape a strong, evidence-backed application. The result is a funded program that gives young people the skills, support and pathways they need to thrive, particularly across the rural communities of Murtoa, Hopetoun and Warracknabeal.

This win reflects Council’s commitment to empowering youth voices and providing practical leadership development opportunities that respond directly to local needs, as identified through consultations and community data.

Funding Context

The Engage! program supports youth-focused initiatives that build life skills, leadership capacity, wellbeing and community connection. It prioritises activities that are codesigned with young people and that provide meaningful training, mentoring and volunteering opportunities.

Yarriambiack’s project was a strong fit because it places young people at the centre of planning, delivery and evaluation, and responds directly to regional challenges such as isolation, limited youth services and the need for new engagement pathways.

Why It Matters

• Builds leadership, public speaking, teamwork and project management skills.
• Supports youth mental wellbeing through resilience and confidence building workshops.
• Strengthens community connection across three towns with limited youth engagement infrastructure.
• Encourages active citizenship through youth led social impact projects.
• Creates sustainable pathways where returning participants become peer mentors.

About the Project and Next Steps

Delivered in partnership with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, the program engages young people annually through codesigned workshops, peer mentoring and community projects.

Each year includes school based introductory sessions, two intensive leadership workshops, project design activities and opportunities for young people to implement real initiatives in their communities. Activities will be adapted each year to reflect emerging local issues and student feedback, ensuring continuous relevance and impact.

Next steps include finalising delivery schedules with participating secondary schools, onboarding facilitators, and launching promotional activities to maximise engagement across Murtoa, Hopetoun and Warracknabeal.