QLD Kickstarter Program – Round 3

Approximately $7.5 million available in Round 3, part of $50 million committed over four years
Up to $300,000 (excluding GST) per contract
Applications close: 5 November 2026

Kickstarter funds new, community-led early intervention programs for young people aged 8 to 17 who are showing early signs of criminal or anti-social behaviour. It aims to reduce youth crime, improve community safety and reduce the number of victims of crime.

Funded programs help young people re-engage with school, training or work, address the risk factors behind their behaviour, and strengthen family and community support. Kickstarter is a key part of the Queensland Government's Gold Standard Early Intervention program. Programs that show measurable results can apply for further funding through Proven Initiatives.

Round 3 prioritises two areas: respectful relationships, which means working with families to improve relationships and home stability, and behavioural change, which means helping young people understand consequences, build self-regulation and adopt pro-social behaviour.

Key Requirements

Target cohort

Programs must work, with consent, with young people aged 8 to 17 who show a pattern of early criminal or anti-social behaviour, including drug and alcohol misuse or anger issues, and who also:

are disengaged from school or at high risk of exclusion, or
are in contact with, or at high risk of contact with, police or courts, or
have siblings on youth justice orders

Service design

Deliver structured, consistent support over time, not one-off or ad hoc activities
Involve families or support networks where relevant
Create pathways into education, training, employment or other pro-social outcomes
Be built around a clear explanation of how the service will lead to reduced offending and better outcomes
Be culturally appropriate, place-based and responsive to local need, with some after-hours availability where demand requires it

Performance targets
Applications must show how the program will work towards these KPIs:

90% of participants don’t offend during the program or in the 12 months after
75% of participants maintain school or training attendance, or steady employment
All participants take part in community activities and keep weekly contact with the program

Delivery and compliance

Nominate one target LGA per application
Auspicing and subcontracting aren’t allowed. Delivery partners can be named but the lead organisation stays fully responsible
Use the department’s Service Record System to keep up-to-date records and report on each young person’s progress
Comply with the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 and have safeguarding policies in place

Full service requirements are outlined in the Kickstarter program information and grant guidelines. Breaching any mandatory requirement, or including ineligible budget items, can make the whole application ineligible.

What is eligible for funding?

Programs may include:

Mentoring and leadership activities
Family support and respectful relationships initiatives
Education, training or employment support
Cultural connection activities
Sport and recreation activities
Behavioural change interventions
Community-based engagement activities

Events and workshops are only funded as part of a broader service, not on their own.

Funding can cover salaries and wages, organisational costs (up to 10%), administration, property and energy, motor vehicles, travel, training and professional development, client brokerage and program expenses.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Any registered legal entity, including incorporated not-for-profits and registered businesses. The lead organisation must:

Hold a current ABN or ACN
Have experience delivering services in Queensland
Hold, or plan to obtain, at least $10 million public liability insurance
Have no overdue reports or unresolved performance issues with previous departmental funding
Have the financial, governance and operational capacity to manage the funding

State and federal government agencies can’t apply.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

Apply for this grant below:

OR