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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FAQs
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.