2026 Need a Lift! Youth Photography Competition

The Need a Lift?  Youth Photography Competition invites young people (aged 12-24) across Northern Sydney to celebrate positive mental health by capturing a photo of something uplifting, positive or joyful in their life and uploading it with a brief description explaining why.

We are now accepting your submissions into the photography competition! Please Snap, Caption, and Submit an uplifting photo before the 1st of September to raise the wellbeing of yourself and your community.

Entries to the competition will be in the running for the following gift card prizes: $350 for Overall Winner, $250 for Runner Up, $250 for People's Choice and $150 for 3 age category winners - 12-15, 16-18 and 19-24 years old. 

During Mental Health Month in October, photographs by selected finalists will be displayed across Northern Sydney. Look out for them in elevators in health services and local council buildings!

This competition is organised by: Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) School-link, NSLHD Health Promotion, North Sydney Council, Lane Cove Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, City of Ryde Council, headspace Brookvale, headspace Chatswood, Northern Beaches Council, Hornsby Ku-ring- gai Community Drug Action Team (CDAT), Willoughby Council, Hunters Hill Council and Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre.