FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants

FRRR and our donor partners collaborate with ABC Heywire to help empower communities and young people to take action on issues that matter most to them, as identified at the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for communities and young people across Australia to design local solutions addressing the six issues identified at the Heywire Summit.

Applicants are require to submit a brief Expression of Interest (EOI). EOI’s will be shortlisted by the young people who identified these issues at the Summit. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full application.

FRRR first joined forces with the ABC in 2013 and the positive impact of the Heywire Grants we’ve awarded so far is being felt in more than 200 rural and regional communities around Australia.

The Heywire Grants program embeds youth voice at all stages, through youth shortlisting applications, engagement of a youth intern, and the final Youth Assessment Panel.

2026 Grant Themes

Issues that projects can respond to through the 2026 Heywire Grants program will appear here after the Heywire Summit in February.

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Expressions of Interest open 4 February.

EOIs close 11 March.

How to apply?

Please read the information on each of the three tabs below to make sure this is the right grant for your project.

If you want to explore other grant options, please go to Find Funding Now.

I have a question, who can I talk to?

Lauren Ryan

Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: [email protected]

Confirm you are eligible to apply for this grant

To make sure this is the right grant for your community, please read the grant information detailed in the Program Guidelines below carefully. Click on each headline to reveal the detail.

The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grant program helps communities act on issues of current concern for young Australians, as identified by youth at the annual Heywire Youth Summit in Canberra.

The Heywire Youth Summit provides an opportunity for young people from across Australia to collectively identify issues that have impacted them growing up in remote, rural and regional Australia.

The Heywire Youth Innovation Grants provide up to $10,000 for communities to act on these issues by developing local projects that respond to these issues.

Through these grants, this program aims to:

  • Make remote, rural, and regional Australia a better place to grow up for young Australians;
  • Put young people at the centre of decision making about issues affecting them within their community;
  • Strengthen young people’s connections to their community, by providing an avenue for organisations to engage well with youth.

The issues that your project can address will appear here from 4 February.

Projects must take place in regional Australia, as defined by ABC Heywire – they must be outside of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

In 2026, there is $100,000 available nationally, thanks to the generous support of the David Mactaggart Foundation, Sally Foundation, Kellanova, and private donors.

Projects that can demonstrate local youth engagement, consultation, and/or involvement in the design and delivery of the project will receive preference.

Priority will be given to projects that are either:

  • Youth-led projects: This program highly encourages projects where youth are responsible for the design and delivery of the entire project, with oversight from supporting organisations where needed. Through this grant program, youth are provided with the opportunity to gain experience and skills in project delivery and the granting process.
  • Partnerships between youth and community organisations: This program encourages projects that facilitate meaningful partnerships between organisations and the youth in their community. Youth should have input into the design and delivery of the project, with the community organisation responsible for the actual program delivery. Opportunities should be provided for youth to step in and out of the project design and delivery as needed. In developing and strengthening these partnerships, youth will be supported to become active participants in local community organisations.
  • Youth participation in projects that strengthen the connection to their community: Community organisations that have strong connections with youth can deliver projects for the benefit of local youth. These organisations should still clearly demonstrate how local youth have been consulted with in the development of the project to ensure it meets their needs and that they will participate in the project if it is delivered locally.

Funds will be available to deliver initiatives that address one of the six issues identified at the Heywire Summit. A broad range of charitable projects are considered under this program, including:

  • Delivering or providing activities, events, programs, and services;
  • Purchasing or hiring equipment and materials;
  • Community infrastructure projects;
  • Organisational capacity building;
  • Community resource development.

Projects must be undertaken between July 2026 and December 2027.

There are several areas that we can’t fund through this program. If in doubt, please contact us:

  • Projects that support core business and areas of responsibility of Federal, State, and Local Governments NOTE: We can fund projects delivered by Local Government where they directly support young people and are beyond the core business and areas of responsibility);
  • Ongoing core organisational operational costs (e.g., rent, utilities, regular wages, loan repayments);
  • The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation, and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law. Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club;
  • Overseas travel and overseas projects;
  • Prizes, gifts, trophies, or awards;
  • Political lobbying;
  • Projects that primarily benefit private business, a sole trader, or private interests;
  • Projects solely focused on animal welfare.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (e.g., if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company, or Trust), please contact FRRR;
  • The project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
  • Not-for-profit organisations with or without DGR-1 endorsement are eligible;
  • Organisations can submit one application per grant round;
  • Projects must take place in regional Australia, as defined by ABC Heywire – that is, outside of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney;
  • For program purposes, youth is generally defined as ages 12-28.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if the:

  • The application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
  • The application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e., a registered not-for-profit), without the written consent of the governing/partnering body who holds the ABN/Incorporation Certificate;
  • The application is submitted without required financial documentation (see below);
  • Overdue final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with the legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
  • The application is for a project or activity that has already occurred or is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
  • The application is incomplete. NOTE: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.
Gather information to support your grant application

Please read the information below to support the planning and preparation of your project. It also sets out what you MUST include for your project to be considered. There are plenty of helpful resources to support you along the way.

Please contact FRRR if you have any questions about the following information.

This year, the application process comprises two steps. Your initial Expression of Interest (EOI) needs to provide:
– Organisation name;
– Project title;
– Project description (500 words);
– How young people are involved in design or delivery (300 words);
– Location;
– Funding amount requested.

If invited to application stage, your full application MUST include:

A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated and shared.

Where possible, we encourage you to make it really clear that your organisation is ready and able to deliver the project and, if required, provide ongoing support for the initiative.

Why is this important?

FRRR needs to clearly understand your project to assess its merits. Applicants should focus on addressing the what, when, where, who, why, and how of the project, as this is the best formula to clearly communicate the details of the project.

A ready community is best placed to achieve the aims of your project, so during assessment, our staff look for information that tells us that good leadership, skills and awareness exist in your community to support the project now and in the future.

Helpful resources:

Applications received without the requested financial information are ineligible. Providing incorrect financial information is currently the most common reason why applications are not considered. You must include the organisation’s:

  • Annual income (total income in your financial year)’
  • Annual expenditure (total expenses in your financial year); and
  • Current assets (from your audited financials, or bank balance minus any debts).

Please note:

  • Please explain any large financial surplus or current assets and why FRRR funds are still required.
  • If financial information is more than 18 months old, please provide an explanation as to why the organisation does not have more recent documents.
  • Provide explain any deficits and steps to sustain the organisation financially.

Please contact us if you cannot provide the required financial information or you are unsure about what to provide.

Why is this important?

FRRR uses this information to understand your organisation’s ability to manage the grant funds and its financial viability.

You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that FRRR grant funding would be used for and that also shows all income and expenses related to your project.

Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e., total expenditure must match total income.

Applicant contributions in cash or in-kind are highly regarded. Quotes or detailed rationale for items over $1,000 are required, where possible. Note: FRRR suggests costing unskilled volunteer labour at $45 per hour.

For more info on costing volunteer labour, visit: https://explore.fundingcentre.com.au/help-sheets/valuing-volunteer-labour.

Why is this important?

A clear budget helps FRRR to understand the size of your project, exactly how FRRR funds will be spent, and demonstrates community support for your project through in-kind contributions from your organisation or partners / community members.

Helpful resources:

Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, FRRR may still fund the project but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the ‘legal organisation’ (with your organisation being the delivery organisation). This situation often occurs when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch. In this case, the CWA or YMCA would be the legal organisation.

Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the ‘legal organisation’s’ legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter of support, confirming they are willing to play this role, with a template available here.

Why is this important?

This program is only able to distribute funds to not-for-profit organisations with an ABN or Incorporation number, and FRRR needs to know that the organisation with that ABN / Incorporation number understands and agrees to carry out their responsibilities in relation to your project, if successful.

FRRR strongly recommends that you provide supporting materials such as letters of support, evidence of permission from the property owner, community plans, survey results, photographs, media clips and research reports that can show broad community support and partnerships involved in the project. For more information on supporting documentation, watch this recording.

Large documents should be referenced and explained in the application.

Why is this important?

FRRR seeks to fund projects that are well-supported by the broader local community, are locally led and delivered, show good partnerships, and benefit multiple parts of the community. As FRRR may not always be familiar with your community, our staff consider support material as evidence toward understanding the level of community need, benefit, and support.

Helpful resources:

We have grouped the kinds of projects communities commonly ask us to help fund into seven areas, which we call the Activity Tree:

1. Building community resilience
2. Developing organisational resilience and capacity
3. Enhancing environmental sustainability
4. Fostering cultural vibrancy
5. Lifelong learning and education
6. Economic strength
7. Improving community health and social wellbeing

We ask you to nominate one of those seven areas when you apply. So, before you lodge your application, download the Activity Tree to help you identify your focus area.

Need some more help?

We have a large selection of resources on our Grantseeker Resources Page to help you along the way.

FRRR has moved to a new online granting system called Blackbaud Grants Portal. All applications must be submitted via this system.

Expressions of Interest for the 2026 Heywire Youth Innovation Grants open 4 February and close 11 March.

Please contact FRRR if you have questions about any aspect of the application process.

Return to an existing application here

Helpful resources:

It is time to submit your application. If it is helpful, you can download a sample copy of the application forms when the program opens in February:
– Expression of Interest (EOI) form;
– Full application form (only required if your EOI is shortlisted).

Before you submit your EOI via the online Blackbaud Grants Portal, please ensure you have:

  • Confirmed you are eligible to apply for this grant.
  • Provided clear information about your project.
  • Checked that you are an eligible legal entity.
  • Provided the financial information required.
  • Created a budget for the project.
  • Spoken to an FRRR contact person where you were unsure of any requirement.
  • Checked the information you are providing to ensure it is clear and relevant to the project.

If you have significant issues accessing a stable internet connection, please contact our team to discuss an alternative way of applying:
Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: [email protected]

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with FRRR. The process has been easy to navigate and the support from the organisation has been beyond what was expected. They have been very helpful when I have had questions and extremely flexible allowing time for acquittal and understanding when changes have been needed.

Through support from the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants we were able to reach more than 600 young people through the Our Voice project. The Our Voice presentations have been truly magical as they have evolved through the period of this funding. The lived-experience youth presenters started very tentatively and nervously, as they found their confidence and strength in their own voices and their comfort within presenting and connecting to the young people that they were supporting. To watch their growth personally within self and as presenters has been a beautiful success and shows the power and beauty of storytelling from lived experience.

The thing that we most appreciate is that these grants have been designed by and decided upon in collaboration with our youth. This makes this project very, very special!”

Megan Stray, Heal.ed Tribe – Heywire Grantee 2021

“FRRR’s grant application was clearly set out, staff were friendly and helpful when I had a few questions, and the whole process was easily achievable. We are grateful for the opportunity to receive funding to improve Adavale Lane Community Centre so it can be accessed and used for the benefit of our whole community.”

Danielle Diener, Secretary – Adavale Lane Community Centre Incorporated

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