Applications Open: ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship 2026

Young leaders across the Asia-Pacific are being called to take the lead in transforming mental health advocacy in their communities. Orygen Global, one of the world’s leading organizations in youth mental health, has officially opened applications for the ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship 2026.

This prestigious program is designed for young people aged 18 to 30 from Australia, ASEAN member states, and Pacific Island nations, who are passionate about improving mental health awareness, policy, and systems reform. Applications close on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at 2:00 PM AEDT (GMT +11).

About the Fellowship

Launched in 2020, the Orygen Global Youth Mental Health Fellowship aims to strengthen the capacity and leadership of young people working to make a difference in mental health. The initiative was first developed by Orygen’s Youth Strategic Advisors, Maddison O’Gradey-Lee and Nataya Branjerdporn, following global consultations in 2019 that revealed the urgent need for youth-led advocacy training and opportunities.

Since its inception, the program has evolved into a regional model, focusing on targeted cohorts in the ASEAN and Pacific regions. Between 2022 and 2024, it successfully brought together three diverse cohorts from ASEAN member countries and Australia.

The 2026 ASEAN-Pacific edition builds on this success, expanding participation to include young leaders from Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations alongside ASEAN states. Fellows will gain hands-on experience, tailored mentorship, and direct access to global networks of mental health experts, advocates, and policymakers.

What the Fellowship Offers

The ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship combines professional training, mentorship, and project-based learning. Fellows will develop and implement advocacy initiatives that address mental health challenges unique to their local and regional contexts.

Key program components include:

• Education and Training Modules: A five-part curriculum exploring topics such as defining advocacy, sharing lived experiences safely, developing proposals for change, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

• Peer Mentoring: Fellows will be paired with peers from different regions to exchange insights, support, and encouragement throughout the program.

• Expert Mentoring: Each Fellow will be matched with a mentor from the global mental health sector for individualized guidance.

• Collaborative Advocacy Project: Fellows will design and implement community-based projects aimed at improving youth mental health systems.

• Contact with Global Leaders: Participants will engage with prominent youth mental health leaders from around the world, fostering new networks and perspectives.

• In-Person Forum: The program concludes with an immersive training and networking event bringing all Fellows together to refine their advocacy strategies.

Through these components, the Fellowship empowers participants to become sustainable agents of change in their countries—combining lived experience, leadership, and innovation to shape inclusive mental health systems.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be aged between 18 and 30 as of 22 January 2026, when the Fellowship begins.

• Have their country of birth or residence in one of the eligible locations, including:

  • ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam)

  • Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Palau, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Niue, Cook Islands, Micronesia)

  • Australia and New Zealand

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to improving mental health in their communities.

• Submit an application in English, highlighting their advocacy experience and project ideas.

The program strongly discourages the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT for proposal writing, emphasizing authentic, original ideas in applicants’ submissions.

Application Process

Applicants must submit their applications online by the deadline, 20 November 2025. After submission, candidates will receive a confirmation email and can expect a response within six weeks regarding progression to the interview stage. The Fellowship officially commences on 22 January 2026.

For more details or accessibility support, applicants can reach out to the Orygen Global team at [email protected].

For more details click here.

Why Apply

This Fellowship is more than an academic or leadership program—it’s a platform for empowerment. Fellows will not only design meaningful community projects but also join a global network of young advocates who are reshaping how societies understand and respond to youth mental health.

By fostering creativity, inclusion, and leadership, the ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship helps build a generation of changemakers equipped to promote mental wellbeing across borders.

Stay HERE for more opportunities.

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