Creativity and Wellbeing for Young People

Program guidelines

Program overview

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 while supporting their overall mental, social and emotional wellbeing.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest application

To be invited to apply for a Creativity and Wellbeing for Young people grant, you will first need to submit an overview of your project concept, relevance and alignment to the objectives.

Expressions of interest are due no later than 4:00pm 6 February 2025.

Stage 2: Application Invitation

Successful expressions of interest will be invited to apply to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and/or Healthway through the submission of a funding request. Applicants will be advised of the submission deadline upon notification of the outcome of their expression of interest.

Program objectives

Provide opportunities for participation and engagement in arts and creative activities for young people in Western Australia.
Foster positive social, emotional and mental wellbeing outcomes for young people participating in arts and creative activities.
Increase the long-term sustainability of employment opportunities for artists delivering and creating work with young people.
Increase accessibility and engagement of creative experiences for young people with a particular focus on those who identify as: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD), LGBTQIA+, or are impacted by a level of socio-economic disadvantage.

Competitive projects will demonstrate alignment to all program objectives.

Funded activity will:

Deliver a series of repeat creative/artistic engagements for children and/or young people.
Demonstrate how the activity supports mental, social and emotional wellbeing of participants.
Engage with a target group who identify as one or more of the key priority areas:
- early childhood and their guardians
- children (ages 5-12)
- adolescent (ages 13 – 19)
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- reside in rural, remote or regional Western Australia
- experience a level of disadvantage (physical, mental impairments, low-socio economic, minority and CaLD groups, educational disadvantage)
- young people considered as ‘at risk’
- LGBTQIA+
Take place outside school environment/after school hours (i.e. not aligned to curriculum)

Who can apply?

Applications are open to:

Western Australian-based^* arts and/or cultural organisations
Western Australian-based^* creative practitioners
local governments
Western Australian-based* not-for-profit community organisations and/or not-for-profit community service organisations.

^* Must have a Western Australian office, or be currently residing in Western Australia, with a Western Australian address.

When can I apply?

Proposed activity start dates must be from 1 July 2025.

The key dates calendar has opening, closing and activity start dates.

You are encouraged to submit your expression of interest before the submission date.

How much can I apply for?

Eligible applicants will be able to apply for up to $75,000 for projects and/or programs.

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.

What can I apply for?

Creativity and Wellbeing for Young People supports projects and/or programs that provide opportunities for participation and engagement in arts and creative activities for young people in Western Australia.

This may include:

artist residencies/workshops
attending arts and/or cultural experiences with demonstrated links to extended engagement

What can't I apply for?

activity already funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC)
activity already funded by Healthway
commercial workshops
projects that are a continuation of an already existing work in progress
events (including but not limited to festivals, fetes and productions)
projects or activities that do not involve or benefit Western Australian based practicing artists, creatives or arts or cultural workers
purchase of capital equipment (including instruments, computers, tablets (iPads) and/or uniforms, including technical website development costs)
capital works such as construction, modification or purchasing of studios, workspaces or gallery spaces
activity that will be academically assessed or any school curriculum-based activity
digital games development activities
activities relating to podcasts and audiobooks that do not involve creative arts practitioners
activities relating to radio broadcasting
travel outside of Western Australia
fundraising, competitions, prizes and trophies
the work of State or Federal government departments
sitting fees for committees
ongoing organisational and staffing operational costs.

How many times can I apply?

You may submit 1 expression of interest for consideration.

Your project must be completed within 12 months of receiving the funds.

How do I apply?

Email your expression of interest and support materials to creativelearning@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

We strongly suggest speaking to a Project Officer prior to commencing your expression of interest.

Components of your application

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.

Core questions

Your answers to the core application questions should give assessors a concise overview of your activity. Each question has a 1500-character limit.

What is the project you are proposing?
How will your project enhance creativity and the social, emotional and/or mental wellbeing of participants? What gaps does this project address?
Who is the priority group you are targeting?
Who are the key creatives and collaborators and what are their roles in the activity?
How do you plan to undertake the project?
How will you evaluate the project?

Financial information

Expressions of interest are required to complete an indicative expenditure overview for the proposed project.

A template has been provided and should be attached as support material for your expression of interest. You must demonstrate at least 20% income.

Application templates

Application questions
Expenditure overview

Registered for Goods and Services Tax

If you are registered for GST, you must show your expenditure items exclusive of the GST component.

Support material

Support material is central to demonstrate the value of your proposed activity.

Recommended support material

Overview of engagement and activity timeline
Evidence of past projects
Letter of support from project collaborators (if relevant)

How will my application be assessed?

Applications to this program are reviewed by an assessment panel including representation from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Healthway and an external peer assessor.

The core components to your application: 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.

All applications are assessed against the 4 criteria:

quality
reach
good planning
financial responsibility.

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 — weighting 25%

Quality refers to the level of artistic and cultural significance of the activity, and alignment to program objectives.

You must consider the program concept and how it relates to the primary objective and key program priorities/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 — weighting 25%

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 — weighting 25%

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 — weighting 25%

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.

Assistance for applicants

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.

Assistance for people with disability

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:

National Relay Service (NRS) then ask for 1800 634 541
Internet Relay Calls
Captioned Relay Calls
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 1800 634 541
Speak and Listen users phone 1800 555 727 ask for 1800 634 541.

Interpreting assistance

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.

Contact us

Grants Officers

For enquires relating to this funding program, including advice or assistance with your application, contact a Grants Officer:

Telephone 61 8 6552 7400

Toll Free (Country WA callers only) 1800 634 541

Email grantsprogramsca@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Page reviewed 07 January 2025