Making Opportunity Visible

It often starts with curiosity, ambition or the feeling you’re ready for more. Maybe you’re looking for a first step into the impact space. Maybe you’re building experience alongside study, or exploring where your skills fit in the world. Or maybe you just don’t know what’s out there yet.

This board exists to bridge that gap. Every opportunity here has been curated with early-career pathways in mind, internships, jobs, grants, programs, volunteering roles and leadership experiences from organisations creating real impact.

Where you go from here is up to you, but finding the starting point shouldn’t be the hard part.

Feb
28
to 30 Nov

Peacebuilding National Youth Design Challenge

The Peacebuilding National Youth Design Challenge is a free online design thinking competition for young Australians aged 10–21 to develop solutions that promote peace, inclusion and connection in schools, communities and digital spaces. Participants choose a thematic focus, apply creative problem-solving methods, and can receive judging feedback, finalist recognition and mentoring support.

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May
29

YAIA Future Leaders Series

Young Australians in International Affairs’ Future Leaders Series is a digital flagship program exploring digital policy, diplomacy, digital economics, technology, and AI in the international system. It is designed for later-year undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and early-career professionals who are Australian citizens or permanent residents.

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July
31

Carers Victoria Young Carer Art Competition

Carers Victoria is promoting the Young Carer Art Competition for young carers aged 25 and under who care for a family member, friend, or loved one. Entrants are invited to submit an artwork responding to the theme “Your Art, Your Voice,” with prizes available across three age groups and selected works showcased at a later exhibition.

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Jan
1

ITU AI Skills Coalition

The AI Skills Coalition is a United Nations-led global platform for accessible artificial intelligence education and capacity building, designed to equip professionals, students, policymakers and educators with essential AI knowledge and skills. It prioritises inclusive participation from learners worldwide, with a focus on supporting individuals in developing and least developed countries as well as women and marginalised groups.

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Jan
1

OECD Internships

The OECD Internship Programme offers motivated students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to work alongside policy experts and contribute to global policy initiatives while developing analytical and technical skills in an international environment. Through this experience, interns contribute to the OECD’s mission of building better policies for better lives.

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May
16

Global Model UN Singapore 2026 Secretariat Recruitment

WFUNA is recruiting Secretariat members for Global Model UN Singapore 2026, an in-person international Model UN conference for university students and recent graduates aged 18–30. The opportunity is suited to young people with experience or interest in Model UN, international relations, conference operations, communications, logistics, research, or chairing.

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May
15

Climate 2000 Future Leaders: Community Outreach Role

Climate 200 is hiring for its Future Leaders: Community Outreach Role, a remote casual paid position for early-career applicants interested in climate action, fundraising, community engagement, and democratic participation. The role involves joining the Community Outreach Calling Team to support donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and community conversations.

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May
15

Whitlam Institute What Matters? Writing Competition

The Whitlam Institute’s What Matters? Writing Competition invites Australian students in Years 5 to 12 to submit an original piece of writing about an issue, idea, or cause that matters to them. Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, persuasive writing, poetry, or prose, making it a strong opportunity for young people interested in writing, advocacy, civics, and social change.

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Apr
1

Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge is a UN-based global robotics competition for students aged 10 to 18 to design, build and program robots that offer practical solutions to challenges tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Participants compete through national and regional events for a place at the Grand Finale at the AI for Good Global Summit, developing technical and problem-solving skills along the way.

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Feb
1

55th St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition

The St. Gallen Global Essay Competition is an international essay contest for graduate and postgraduate students worldwide, challenging them to address a core global theme through original written analysis. Top entrants receive monetary awards and qualify to participate at the annual St. Gallen Symposium as part of the Leaders of Tomorrow community.

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Jan
21

WhyNot Newsroom Journalist Applications

The WhyNot Newsroom is a youth-led journalism initiative for emerging and early-career writers who want to report on issues shaping young people’s lives through ethical, youth-centred storytelling. Participants contribute articles on a flexible, project-based basis, working with experienced editors to produce journalism that centres lived experience, accountability and systems change.

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Jan
15

The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge (LPYDC)

The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge is a global initiative for youth aged 15 to 26 to submit education-focused innovation projects that address themes of community impact, well-being or sustainability. Shortlisted participants receive mentorship and exposure, with top ambassadors awarded grants and networking opportunities to advance their work.

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Jan
15

Hansen Leadership Institute

A fully funded three-week leadership institute in the United States focused on international cooperation and conflict resolution. The program covers all costs, including international airfare, room, board, and programmatic fees. It is designed for students and recent graduates aged 20–25 who are emerging leaders globally.

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Jan
11

Multicultural Youth Network

The Multicultural Youth Network (MYN) is an advisory group of up to 20 young Victorians from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, aged 18–25, who work, study or live in Victoria to provide insight and recommendations to the Victorian Multicultural Commission and government on issues affecting multicultural young people.

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Dec
31

Australian National Audit Office Internship

Register your interest for the ANAO's 2025 Internship Program, a paid, casual opportunity for university students to gain foundational knowledge in public sector audit and assurance. Interns work flexibly, contributing to audits that enhance government accountability and improving their competitiveness for future Graduate Programs.

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Dec
14

D-Prize Global Competition

Secure $20,000 USD in startup funding to launch proven poverty solutions in low or middle income countries. This competition, run by D-prize, provides seed capital for entrepreneurs who are ready to design an initial test pilot and launch a large scale organisation to tackle extreme poverty.

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FAQs

  • Opportune is a youth-led, volunteer-powered not-for-profit making opportunities in the impact sector visible and accessible to young Australians. We curate internships, jobs, grants, programs, volunteering roles and leadership pathways from purpose-driven organisations.

    We do this because too many young people miss out on impact careers—not from lack of ability, but because the pathways are hidden behind networks, paywalls or outdated systems. At the same time, organisations struggle to reach youth talent because traditional job boards charge posting fees that can cost up to $3,000, money that should be going toward impact, not advertising.

    Opportune exists to close that gap and connect young people with the opportunities and organisations shaping the future.

  • We support young people aged roughly 16 - 30 who want to build experience, networks or careers in areas like social impact, policy, advocacy, community development, sustainability and the broader not-for-profit space. But impact isn’t limited to those sectors, the ecosystem also relies on people in finance, tech, communications, law, design, strategy and more. Whatever your field, there’s a pathway to create impact, and we help make those entry points visible.

  • Most job platforms charge organisations hundreds to thousands of dollars to post a single listing, which prices out non-profits and impact organisations. They also rarely prioritise youth-specific pathways.

    Opportune removes that barrier entirely. We’re free, impact-focused and fully curated. Every listing is selected for its relevance to early-career candidates, accessibility and alignment with social purpose.

  • Yes, exploring opportunities on our website is completely free.

    However, for those who want an extra boost, we offer an optional monthly newsletter for $5, about the price of a coffee. It includes deadline reminders, new opportunities delivered straight to your inbox, and directly supports the ongoing work of a youth-led non-profit. Access stays free either way.

  • Our work is designed for young people in Australia, but that doesn’t mean the opportunities stop at the border. Many of the roles we feature include international placements, hybrid options, overseas internships or global pathways that Australians can apply for from wherever they are.

    We’re also mindful of international students based in Australia and regularly include opportunities that are open to them. For roles designed specifically for international students, we recommend checking out our friends at stintcommunity.com.au, they’re doing incredible work in that space.

  • You can follow us on social media, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, or check in regularly for new listings and volunteer roles. We post updates across multiple channels so young people and organisations can engage in the way that suits them.