Young people in the Colac Otway Shire will be enjoying National Youth Week 2008 in style, thanks to new Brumby Government funding for local organisations to run events and activities during the celebration, the Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced today.
Ms Tierney said the Colac Otway Shire and the Otway Health Community Services had both received funding to organise events.
The Colac Otway Shire will organise Partners Trekking Together 2008 – an Inter-youth committee overnight treck to plan potential collaborative projects for 2008-9.
The Otway Health and Community Services will organise Fractured Street Art – a mural to be created by young people and emerging artists located within Apollo Bay. The project will involve schools in the area.
“National Youth Week, which this year will run from April 5-13, is Australia’s largest celebration for young people, so it is a wonderful boost for our community to be able to hold events with a local flavour,” she said.
“The 2008 celebration promises to be bigger than ever and I look forward to seeing young people in the Colac Otway Shire getting involved in events during the week.”
Ms Tierney said the Brumby Government, in partnership with beyondblue – a not-for-profit organisation addressing issues associated with depression, had given more than $150,000 to 80 community organisations across Victoria to work together with young people to deliver National Youth Week events.
The theme for the 2008 National Youth Week celebration is ‘Shout. Share. Live. Unite’.
Minister for Youth Affairs, James Merlino, said the grants program was aimed at helping young people – wherever they lived and whatever their background – to plan and organise events in their communities.
“This is yet another opportunity to showcase the talents, contributions and achievements of our young Victorians, and help to develop their skills and leadership abilities,” Mr Merlino said.
“Youth Week is also a lot of fun and a good time for young people to show the wider community what they can do – and have a great time doing it.”
Mr Merlino said the grants encouraged young Victorians to get together with local organisations and give them the opportunity to work on a project that helps build and strengthen their communities.
National Youth Week is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. Last year, more than 208,000 young people were involved in National Youth Week events across Australia.
Visit www.youth.vic.gov.au for more information about National Youth Week 2008.