Golden Plains Shire Council has secured a HEY grant to deliver LGBTIQA+ programs for young people in the Shire.
With the $5,000 grant from the Victorian Government, Council will partner with Bannockburn P – 12 College to deliver a range of youth-informed and school-based initiatives to improve support for LGBTIQA+ young people. Initiatives will include anti-homophobia campaigns, training for students and staff and the first social support group for LGBTIQA+ young people.
The initiatives will be supported by specialist agencies including Safe Schools, GASP and Headspace Geelong and will be delivered at Bannockburn P – 12 College in Term 3 and 4, 2021.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby thanked the Victorian Government for the HEY grant funding to support local young people.
“Council is very pleased to have received the HEY grant to deliver inclusive programs at the Shire’s only high school, further strengthening support for LGBTIQA+ young people in our local communities.
“We know that mental health risk factors for young people in our rural area are significantly higher than those of their metropolitan counterparts and that rates of poor mental health are even more evident in LGBTIQA+ young people.
“This project has been co-designed by young people to improve mental health and wellbeing, social connections and education, whilst being mindful of existing and emerging risk factors, low self-esteem and confidence and social isolation and loneliness. Council is pleased to support and deliver this valuable new program in 2021.”
In a media release, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney stated “HEY Grants help promote the importance of embracing diversity within our community. It’s great to see Golden Plains Shire Council receive this grant so that further LGBTIQA+ people in the region can be supported as we move towards COVID-Normal.”
The Victorian Government’s HEY (Health, Equal, Youth) grants are aimed at assisting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community groups to help raise awareness, promote diversity, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and improve the overall mental health of these groups. Across the last decade, more than $1.5 million has been invested in HEY grants, supporting more than 100 organisations to deliver programs that improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes of young LGBTIQA+ Victorians.