To celebrate the contribution young people make to Victoria – The Andrews Labor Government has provided more than $220,000 to local community organisations, schools and councils across Victoria during Victorian Youth Week.
Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp MP today congratulated the recipients of the Victorian Youth Week Grants program from the Mildura district, as follows:
- Buloke Youth Health Expo 2020 – Buloke Shire Council
The Buloke Youth Health Expo is a youth health promotion project with the goals to improve overall health literacy and knowledge about health and lifestyle risks including drugs and alcohol harm. The event is particularly aimed at Year 9 & 10 students.
- Lift Off at Lake Lascelles Hopetoun – Yarriambiack Shire Council
LIFT OFF is a youth driven activity that will empower young people to plan, create and manage an event. They will also participate in meditation and yoga activities throughout the week leading up to the final event, to promote health and well-being. They will assist with advertising and media commitments.
- Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC) Youth Awards 2020 – Mildura Rural City Council
The Mildura Rural City Council Youth Awards have been running since 2012 and has seen 167 young people recognised and 818 community members attend this annual event. The Awards have been established to recognise young people between 12 to 25 years of age, for their achievements and contributions to the community.
Among the 110 successful recipients across Victoria, fifty-nine events are in rural and regional Victoria – with seven of these events to be held in areas declared as bushfire disaster zones.
Victorian Youth Week runs from 3 to 12 April 2020 and highlights the important role young people play in in our state – giving them a chance to plan, deliver and attend events in their local area.
Events include art exhibitions, musical performances, cultural celebrations and sporting competitions. All events are delivered in a safe and inclusive environment that is alcohol, drug and smoke-free.
Victorian Youth Week was created in 2018 after the Turnbull Liberal Government scrapped funding for Australia’s largest celebration of young people, National Youth Week.
The Andrews Labor Government’s stepped in to create Victorian Youth Week, funding hundreds of events and promoting social inclusion and wellbeing through connections with the community.
In just its third year, Victorian Youth Week is bigger and better than ever, with more than 130 events planned across Victoria. An interactive map of events is available at www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/vyw
Victorian Youth Week, along with the Youth Summit and other initiatives – are a key part of the Labor Government’s Youth Policy: Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria, providing an opportunity for young people to influence policy, services and programs that affect them.
Quotes attributable to Mark Gepp MP, Member for Northern Victoria
“We don’t always hear about the wonderful contribution young people make to our communities, but I’m thrilled to see Victorian Youth Week events will be held locally to celebrate their achievements.”
“Young people are our future, and I am proud to be part of the Andrews Labor Government that is committed to giving youth a voice through a variety of different initiatives such as Youth Summit and Youth Parliament.”
