From 1 July 2025, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS) replaces the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC).
Program guidelines
The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Healthway recognise the importance of providing opportunities for children and young people to engage in authentic creative and artistic experiences, promoting positive social and emotional wellbeing.
The program will support the engagement of creative practitioners to use the arts as a vehicle to reach priority communities and increase opportunities for young people to engage in continuous creative activities to encourage agency, creativity, connection and resilience. The program also supports activities to build preventative health initiatives aimed at supporting participants’ mental health and fostering social and emotional wellbeing.
To be invited to apply for a Creativity and Wellbeing for Young people grant, you will first need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sports online grants portal. This EOI will form the basis of your grant application should your application be approved to progress to Stage 2.
Expressions of interest are due no later than 4:00pm Thursday 11 December 2025.
Applicants who are successful in Stage 1: Expressions of Interest will be invited to apply to either the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport or Healthway through an invitation only grant round.
Applicants will be advised of the submission deadline upon notification of the outcome of their expression of interest.
Competitive projects will demonstrate alignment to all program objectives.
Applications are open to:
* Must have a Western Australian office, or be currently residing in Western Australia, with a Western Australian address.
Proposed activity start dates must be from 1 July 2026.
The key dates calendar has opening, closing and activity start dates.
You are encouraged to submit your expression of interest before the submission date.
Eligible applicants may request up to $75,000 for projects and/or programs.
The amount requested should take into consideration:
This program may fund up to 80% of your activity costs. You must demonstrate at least 20% income (either in-kind or cash), or your expression of interest will be ineligible.
This may include:
You may submit 1 expression of interest for consideration.
Your project must be completed within 12 months of receiving the funds.
Please submit your Expression of Interest using the Online Grants web portal.
We strongly suggest speaking to a Project Officer prior to commencing your expression of interest.
The core components of your application: application questions, alignment to objectives, financial information and support material. Each plays a significant and distinct role in creating a whole picture of your activity.
Provide a summary of the activity and the key elements and what gaps does this project address? Consider including evidence of consultation or previous delivery outcomes within support material.
Clearly outline the target group of young people you propose to work with and why. Include a clear outline of the intended reach of your project detailing the number of young people involved and their repeat engagements.
Consider what activities and/or processes you will undertake to create and build social and emotional wellbeing for participants. Consider how your project will create creative opportunities and skills development for participants.
Identify the key project coordinators (organisations and/or individuals) and creative professionals responsible for delivering the activity. Describe their roles and relevant expertise.
Outline the key processes and stages of your project. Include consideration of how you will market and promote your project, and how you intend evaluate your project.
Expressions of interest are required to complete an indicative expenditure overview to be completed in the online budget template.
The financial information in your budget helps to demonstrate that all elements of your activity have been considered. A good budget also provides confidence that your activity will be a sound investment for the State of Western Australia.
Your funding request is the difference between your expenditure minus your income. To ensure this amount is calculated accurately, seek quotes for all expenditure items (whether or not you intend to include these as support material) and include all costs associated with the activity, even if they are supplied in-kind.
Expenditure items can vary significantly from one activity to another. Any legitimate expense that is eligible may be included in the budget.
Make sure you check the list of what you can't apply for.
This program does not fund 100% of your activity costs so you must demonstrate at least 20% income, which may include in-kind support, or your application will be ineligible.
You are not required to provide relevant project outputs for your Expression of Interest.
Stage 2 Applications only need to provide outputs for the categories and items relevant to your project.
If your application is successful, you will be required to report against your planned project outputs in your acquittal report.
If you are registered for GST, you must show your expenditure items exclusive of the GST component.
If you are not registered for GST, you must show your expenditure items inclusive of the GST component.
Support material is central to demonstrate the value of your proposed activity.
Applications to this program are reviewed and assessed by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, Healthway and an external peer assessor.
A moderation meeting will be held taking into consideration a balance of policy objectives, artform, size, geographic spread and community reach.
The core components to your application include: application questions, financial information, support material. Each plays a significant and distinct role in creating a whole picture about your activity and tells a story about what you want to do.
Each has a weighting and a subset of dimensions with definitions. More information about the dimensions and definitions, which have been developed by artists and creatives representing their sector, can be found in the application manual.
Assessors will consider your application against the relevant dimensions and definitions and allocate a weighted score for each of the four criteria.
Final approval of successful applications depends on available budget and approval by the relevant Minister or delegated authority.
Quality refers to the level of artistic and cultural significance of the activity, and alignment to program objectives.
You must consider the project concept and how it relates to the program objectives. Quality may also be demonstrated through the skills and experience of the people involved in the activity, and the alignment of those skills and experience to deliver the project
Reach refers to the level of impact the activity is likely to have.
Reach may be demonstrated by including information such as the number of participants and depth of engagement, detail as to the extension into the wider community, and legacy of the activity.
Good planning refers to the level of consideration which has been given to practically undertaking the activity.
Good planning can be demonstrated by, but is not limited to; carefully considered preparation, confirmation of key personnel, a realistic timeline and achievable outcomes, documented research and/or consultation, and a process of evaluation.
Financial responsibility refers to the sound management of the budget. Financial responsibility can be demonstrated by, but is not limited to, efficient use of resources, reasonable expenses and an accurate and comprehensive budget, including use of budget notes.
Grants Officers are available via telephone and email to answer queries about the process and suitability of activities to specific programs.
If you need extra assistance due to disability, language barriers or any other factor that may disadvantage you in completing your application, please contact us.
The advice provided by Grants Officers does not guarantee the success of your application.
Due to the high number of applications received, each funding round is highly competitive.
All applications are considered on their own merits and against the assessment criteria and program objectives.
The department is committed to supporting applicants with disability. Information can be provided in alternative formats (large print, electronic or Braille) upon request.
If you require special assistance in preparing your application, please call 61 8 6552 7400 or toll free for regional WA callers on 1800 634 541.
Family, friends, mentors and/or carers can attend meetings with you.
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, please contact us through one of the following:
For interpreting assistance in languages other than English, telephone the Translation and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 and ask for a connection to 61 8 6552 7400 or 1800 634 541.
For enquires relating to this funding program, including advice or assistance with your application, contact a Grants Officer: