Young people from the South West will join celebrations and activities during the inaugural Victorian Youth Week in April, when more than 100 activities will run across the state.
Warrnambool City Council received an Andrews Labor Government grant to run the unBOOlievable Young Parents Week during the 2018 Victorian Youth Week, which will run from 13 to 22 April.
UnBOOlievable will celebrate young parents as positive members of the community, and includes a “Play Trail” morning in the city and parents picnic, among other activities.
The Kirrae Health Service was also successful in receiving a grant to run the Framlingham Kids vs Parents Tee-Ball Competition in the local area.
This will be the first Victorian Youth Week, with more than 100 youth focussed activities – filling the gap after the Turnbull Government scrapped funding for National Youth Week, forcing states and territories to go it alone.
The successful Victorian Youth Week recipients will organise activities that engage young people and provide them with opportunities to express their ideas and be heard in their community, such as art exhibitions, musical performances, cultural celebrations and forums.
The Andrews Labor Government is providing more than $200,000 to local community organisations, schools and councils, to run activities for young people in metropolitan and regional areas during Victorian Youth Week 2018.
It includes nearly 60 grants in regional Victoria.
Activities are aimed at those aged 12 to 25 and will be held in safe environments that are alcohol, drug and smoke free.
The Labor Government’s Youth Policy: Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria sets out a plan to increase engagement with young people and embeds the voice of young people in building an even better Victoria.
For more information about 2018 Victorian Youth Week, visit youthcentral.vic.gov.au/vyw.
Quotes attributable to Gayle Tierney, the Member for Western Victoria
“Young Victorians are overwhelmingly doing great and contributing positively to our society – we are celebrating and supporting them.”
“Our community is proud to support and celebrate the achievements of local young people, and I am sure Victorian Youth Week will be a great event.”
“I encourage young people in our community to mark Victorian Youth Week in your calendars, and see how you can get involved.”