Opportunities Hub
The Health Hive Opportunities Hub is your space to explore, connect, and take action.
Here you’ll find ways to get involved in health research and advocacy, apply what you’ve learned through the Health Hive course, and connect with others creating change in youth health.
The Opportunities Hub is a growing ecosystem, new opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations will be added regularly as we continue to expand.
It’s designed to help turn learning into action, connecting young people with the networks and experiences that shape healthier futures.
Explore the Map
Want to join a Youth Advisory Group? Explore our map to find Youth Advisory Groups across Australia
Thank you to Jackie Kwong and Amani Fuad, who developed this map during their Master of Nutrition and Dietetics community placement at The University of Sydney.
Are you an organisation with a youth group
and would like to be featured on this map?
Fill out our quick submission form (it takes less than a few minutes!)
Get Involved
We welcome researchers to share research opportunities where young people are meaningfully involved, including:
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As collaborators, co-researchers, or advisors contributing to study design, analysis, or dissemination.
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As participants and contributors, where their experiences, ideas, and feedback actively shape the project, not just their demographic or health data.
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In co-design or citizen science activities, where youth perspectives influence decisions and outcomes, which are then communicated to young people.
Projects will not be listed if young people are involved only as research subjects (e.g. personal data collection without input, consultation, or feedback opportunities)
Recruitment was particularly challenging as I was seeking a very specific niche cohort of young people for a research project. Health Hive enabled me to reach participants I had been unable to engage through other channels, significantly improving the representativeness and impact of the research.
Dr Horas Wong, Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney
Project title: ABC's 2027 Trailblazer competition
Led by: ABC Heywire
Contact: abcheywire@abc.net.au
About: ABC's Trailblazers program supports and celebrates young changemakers aged 18–28 who are leading social, educational, environmental, or economic development projects in their regional communities.
Who can take part: If you're aged between 18 and 28 and already working on a social, educational, environmental or economic development project in your regional community — early-stage or established — this program is for you.
Prizes: Winners get national media attention, an all expenses paid trip to the Heywire Regional Youth Summit in Canberra, funding opportunities through the Sally Foundation Trailblazers Development Fund, skill development, networking and mentoring opportunties.
Apply by: 1st August 2026
Click to find out more
Project title: NxtGen Academy Community-led Research: Young People's Views on Social Media and Online Experiences
Led by: Prof. Kath Woods-Townsend and Dr Nikhil Mistry
Contact: Dr Nikhil Misty (lifelab@soton.ac.uk)
Location and format: Online interviews (no more than 40 min, audio recording only. Recordings will be transcribed and deleted post-transcription)
About: This research is about young people’s experiences of, and views on, being online and living in a country where a social media ban exists, as well as their thoughts on what they would want UK decision makers and young people to know about a social media ban for <16yr olds. The data will contribute to a co-created submission to a UK government consultation on safe online use by young people.
Click to sign up:
Project title: Heywire Competition
Led by: ABC Heywire
Contact: abcheywire@abc.net.au
About: Heywire is a lived experience storytelling competition from the ABC, calling for stories from young people in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Entries must be a true story about an aspect of your life. Stories can be in any format: text, video or audio — whatever form suits you best!
Who can take part: Young people aged between 16-22 in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Prizes: Winners get their story featured on the ABC and get an all expenses paid trip to the Heywire Summit in Canberra to make regional Australia a better place for young people. The Summit has seen youth projects developed all over the country. $100K is up for grabs each year to implement the Heywire Summit ideas.
Apply by: 1st September 2026
Click to find out more
Project title: Perceptions of obesity treatment and mental health assessment in young people with high weight
Led by: University of Sydney, EDIT study team and co-designed with Weight Issues Network
Contact: Cathy Kwok - Clinical Psychologist and PhD Candidate cathy.kwok@sydney.edu.au
Location and format: Online one-to-one interviews (up to 60 min)
About: Your voice matters! Help us improve obesity care for young people. If you've experienced high weight as an adolescent and it's impacted you, consider sharing your perspectives and experiences of obesity treatment and mental health assessment in an interview.
Who can take part: Young adults (18-30 years) in Australia who identify with having high weight as an adolescent and have previously sought or received support from a healthcare professional for high weight.
Support: You will receive a $50 e-gift card for participating in the interview.
Apply by: Expressions of interest are now open.
Click to find out more.
Project title: National Public Health Student Think Tank Competition
Led by: Public Health Association of Australia
Contact: SYPPH@phaa.net.au
Location and format: Virtual competition. Four finalists will present their pitch a a national webinar (via Zoom) on Thursday 27 August 2026. The winner will present in person at the Australian Public Health Conference 2026 in Geelong (15–17 September 2026) with flights & accommodation reimbursed (up to $2000).
About: Students are invited to submit a written response of no more than 750 words to address the following prompt:
How do we redesign systems to better promote prevention, wellbeing and health equity? Choose one public health challenge and propose a systems-focused solution.
Who can take part: Tertiary students currently enrolled in University in Australia
Apply by: 750-word response due Monday 6 July, 5pm AEST
Click to find out more.
Project title: Youth Advisory Group about understanding conversational AI
Led by: Care-ful Technologies Lab, University of Sydney
Contact: Katherine di Bona (katherine.dibona@sydney.edu.au)
Location and format: monthly 90 minute-long workshops (with the option of online or in-person depending on demand), online community space, and take part in a month-long probe study that will involve bi-weekly commitment in filling in a probe (which will contain a journal and a few short activities)
About: Researchers from the University of Sydney seek your help to better understand Conversational AI like ChatGPT, character Al, Replika, Claude. If you join our youth advisory group, you will be asked to put aside time every month to attend workshops and creative activities to discuss Conversational AI over the 2026-2028 period. You may choose to participate for one year, or longer.
Who can take part: 16- 24 years living in NSW & have used conservational AI before.
Support: Reimbursement of $50 in form of a gift card for every 2 instances of participation (for example workshops and/or probe kit)
Deadline: Expect application outcomes early July.
Project title: Co-designing a Multilingual Online Info Hub and Suicide Awareness Campaign for CALD LGBTQ+ Youth in South Western Sydney
Led by: University of Sydney, Diverse Youth Mental Health Study Team
Contact: diverse-youth.study@sydney.edu.au
Location and format: Sydney, NSW — in-person and remote participation available
About: Are you an LGBTQ+ young person from a culturally and linguistically diverse background? Do you also live/play/work in Western Sydney? We want to hear from you! Researchers from USYD are exploring the mental health experiences of young people in our community — and your voice matters.
Support: Gift cards provided for your time - $40 for focus groups. Be placed in a draw to win $100 gift card for the survey.
Apply by: Expressions of interest are now open for focus groups. Survey is currently open.
Click to find out more
Project title: The Daily Health Coach
Led by: University of Sydney, The Daily Health Coach
Contact: Mariah Issa – mariah.issa@sydney.edu.au
Location and format: Sydney, NSW — in-person and remote participation available
About: Are you a young woman aged 16–24 who has an interest in content creation for Instagram? The Daily Health Coach is a successful health intervention for young woman delivered on social media. Researchers are looking to recruit a Youth Advisory Group to create Instagram content for the Daily Health Coach (Australia).
Apply by: Expressions of interest are now open.
Click to find out more
Project title: UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme 2026–2028
Led: United Nations Food Systems Co-ordination Hub
About: The Programme is expanding its global network of emerging leaders working across policy, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and community action to advance food systems transformation. Over the past two years, YLP participants have strengthened food systems initiatives in their countries, contributed to policy discussions, advanced research and advocacy efforts, and built collaborations that extend across regions and sectors. It is a leadership journey that equips participants with the skills, networks, and systems approaches needed to drive meaningful change within their communities, institutions, and countries. Through peer learning, mentorship, collaboration with experts and UN partners, and practical leadership development, participants become part of a growing community working to shape more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.
Who can take part: Aged 18-35. Applicants must be from low-or middle-income countries. Priority regions include Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. We particularly encourage applications from young farmers, entrepreneurs, policy advocates, researchers, science communicators, Indigenous and local community representatives, and civil society leaders.
Apply by: 13 July 2026
Click to find out more.
Project title: C3 Study - Co-research Core Competencies & Reporting Checklist
Led by: The Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Sydney
Contact: Dr Jaameeta Kurji at The Kids Research Institute, Australia – Jaameeta.kurji@thekids.org.au
Location and format: Two rounds of short, anonymous online surveys.
About: We are conducting a research study to learn more about what knowledge, skills, attitudes and values are necessary for adult researchers (> 24 years) to have to be able to meaningfully work in partnership with adolescents (10-24 years) on research projects to improve adolescent health and wellbeing.
Who can take part: Young people (14-24 years) who have prior experience or a strong interest in working in partnership with adult researchers (>24 years) in a health and/or wellbeing research project. For e.g., 6 months or more as a member of an advisory committee/council or taking part in co-design activities.
Support: You will receive one $30 gift voucher for taking part in both rounds of the short, anonymous online surveys.
Apply by: July 2026
Click to find out more and apply
Project title: The Daily Health Coach
Led by: University of Sydney, The Daily Health Coach
Contact: Mariah Issa – mariah.issa@sydney.edu.au
Location and format: Sydney, NSW — in-person and remote participation available
About: Are you an influencer that uses Instagram? The Daily Health Coach is a successful health intervention for young woman delivered on social media. Researchers are looking to recruit influencers to participate in a Think Tank to discuss content creation on Instagram.
Apply by: Expressions of interest are now open through The Daily Health Coach website.
Click to find out more
Project title: Fairfield Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
Led by: Fairfield Local Council
Contact: youth@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Location and format: 1 year term, starting July 2026. Monthly in-person meetings.
About: The Fairfield YAC represents the views of Fairfield City’s youth to Council, and advocates for the needs of young people.
Who can take part: Young people aged 14-24 living in the Fairfield LGA
Support: Not reported
Apply by: June 2026
Click to find out more and apply
Project title: FRRR NextGen Blueprint: Intergenerational Conversation Tour
Led by: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Contact: Lauren Ryan, Youth Futures Manager - l.ryan@frrr.org.au or 0498 050 409
Location and format: opportunities include online workshops, an online survey, 1:1 interviews, or by contacting us directly and sharing your insight!
About: The NextGen Blueprint is a multi-year initiative aiming to empower young leaders, strengthen community continuity, and support future-focused investment in youth-led ideas and organisations in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) communities in NSW and QLD. The first step involves understanding what works, what’s needed, and how communities can better involve young people in shaping their futures. These insights will help shape our youth funding to ensure it is relevant, responsive, and rooted in community wisdom.
Project title: The Daily Health Coach
Led by: University of Sydney, The Daily Health Coach
Contact: Mariah Issa – mariah.issa@sydney.edu.auLocation and format: Sydney, NSW — in-person and remote participation available
About: Are you a young woman aged 16–24 who has an interest in content creation for Instagram? The Daily Health Coach is a successful health intervention for young woman delivered on social media. Researchers are looking to recruit a Youth Advisory Group to create Instagram content for the Daily Health Coach (Australia).
Apply by: Expressions of interest are now open.
Keep Learning
2026 Australian Government Youth Advisory Group applications are currently open until 26th October 2025!
Youth Action's Youth Networks are an opportunity o meet other like-minded people and to keep up to date with youth related news.
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition offers a range of services and training for young people (and the organisations that support them).
Registrations for The Youth Health Conference (led by Australian Associaiton for Adolescent Heath) are now open. Conference held Sydney, 22-24 April 2026.
Allknd has developed mental health first aid training called "Good Mate Training" - it is available on their website, check it out!
U-Report Australia is UNICEF’s digital community for young people where you can raise your voice and share opinions on topics that matter to you.
Youth Solutions (Funded by NSW Health/South Western Sydney Local Health District) are recruiting 16-25 year olds to join their Youth Advisory Group!
Young & Resiliant Research Centre at Western Sydney University has a Youth Co-Research Toolkit for Young People.
Check out fya's "Programs for young changemakers" offerings include Media for Advocacy and Youth Action and Wellbeing Grant
Check out the Australian Citizen Science Association for opportunities, event and resources