Creating Chances

Who we are

Creating Chances is an Australian non-profit and for-purpose social enterprise empowering young people through sport-based life skills and leadership programs. For over a decade, we have delivered evidence-based pathways that build resilience, confidence, wellbeing, inclusion and future opportunities, particularly for young people from First Nations, multicultural, refugee, regional and low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Each year, we partner with 130+ schools, reaching over 10,000 young people across NSW. Building on a 20-year legacy from a joint initiative between Football United (UNSW) and the Rugby Youth Foundation, we provide regular access to sport, develop life skills, and create opportunities for young people to thrive.

Our mission is straightforward: to inspire, develop, and empower young people to make a lasting impact on society. We prioritise inclusion for children and young people from under-represented communities, many of whom face barriers such as disadvantage, social isolation, marginalisation, or risk of disengagement from school and community.

What we do

At the core of our work is the Youth Development Pathway, a structured five-stage pathway for young people aged 8–18, using sport to build confidence, resilience, life skills, and leadership. The pathway supports participants from foundational personal development through community engagement and leadership, preparing them for post-school success and providing practical employment opportunities through our School-Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship (SBAT) program.  Delivered across NSW schools and communities, programs combine engaging classroom and on-field activities with mentoring and peer leadership, facilitated by inspirational mentors and youth leaders, many of whom are former participants.

We complement our pathway with targeted, high-impact initiatives that respond to specific community needs:
- Pacific Waves
- Digital Futures
- Girls focused programs
- Football United
- Rugby Tackle Life 

We also have a strong international footprint through Football United, a globally recognised model of sport for social impact, acknowledged by FIFA, UEFA, and Streetfootballworld. Our international initiatives include the participation in, and/or hosting of, youth festivals at major sports tournaments (e.g., Festival23 during FIFA Women’s World Cup), cross-cultural leadership programs such as Sportswomen for Change, peacebuilding programs in Myanmar, and  support grassroots organisations across the Asia-Pacific to embed gender equity and inclusive practices in their programs.