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: Youth Engagement Study! Asia-Pacific (YES! APAC)
Led by: Youth Well Lab, University of Sydney
Contact: youth.well@sydney.edu.au
About: Researchers are conducting a study to find out what young people think matters most for improving health and wellbeing and creating healthier environments. If you choose to take part, you’ll be asked to complete a short online survey that takes about 15–20 minutes. This study has received approval from the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2026/HE000510).
Who can take part: Young people aged 16-24 living in Australia. We are particularly keen to reach young people from:
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Rural and remote communities
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LGBTQIA+ communities
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Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
Support: If you complete the survey, you can choose to enter a prize draw (win one of 10 x $100).
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: Young Mental Health/AOD Carer
Led by: Arafmi
Contact: Roxx MacDonald (RoxxMacDonald@arafmi.com.au)
Location and format: Online meetings
About: Expressions of Interest are open for our Youth Advisory Group. The group will guide our project focused on children or young person who support a family member or friend with mental health or alcohol or other drug (AOD) challenges. We want to know what support children and young people in this situation really want and need.
Who can take part: Young people aged 18-25 who currently support, or have previously supported, someone experiencing mental health or alcohol or other drug challenges.
Support: $50 per hour for your time and expertise.
Apply by: 14 September 2026
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: 2026 Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific Programme
Led by: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Contact: youth@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Location and format: 6 week online initiative (Saturdays, 17 Oct - 21 Nov)
About: Empowers young leaders across the Asia-Pacific to deepen their understandings of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), build entrepreneurhsip and innovation skills and launch a self-directed capstone project to drive real local impact.
Who can take part: Young people aged 18-30 years living in the Asia Pacific region and understand English.
Cost: USD 900 per participant
Support: Mentoring. Participants will also receive a UNITAR Certificate upon completion.
Apply by: 3 October 2026
Click to find out more and apply
Project title: Rainbow Futures Forum | Wear it Purple Day 2026
Led by: Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (SCHN)
Location and format: Free online event (2.5hrs). 10am Friday 28th August.
About: Celebrate Wear It Purple Day with SCHN as we explore youth perspectives, lived experience and practical action to create more inclusive care. Co-designed by the SCHN LGBTIQ+ Advisory Group and SCHN Youth Council, the forum brings together research, lived experience and practical guidance, centring the voices of LGBTQ+ young people and their families. Participants will gain practical strategies, resources and confidence to support inclusive, affirming care, while connecting with others committed to improving outcomes for LGBTQ+ children and young people.
Who can take part: All SCHN staff, community partners and consumers are welcome
Register by: Thursday 27 August. Zoom details will be sent prior to the event.
Register here
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.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
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The Australian Government's Office for Youth has a Digital Youth Hub with a range of resources.
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).
The Youth Well Lab features as a case study in the 2026 National Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research
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