By Jena Carr
A Geelong multicultural organisation is helping improve mental health and foster community connections for young people thanks to a community grants program.
Multicultural Community Services Geelong received a $10,000 Australia Post Community Grant for its Nature Connect: Enhancing Wellbeing for Refugee Youth project, a four-day nature camp.
Chief executive Joy Leggo said she was “delighted” to see the project receive funding to help the wellbeing of refugee youth aged 17 to 25 in an outdoor experience.
“If you’ve got better self-confidence and self-esteem about yourself, those things help you to better manage your mental health,” she said.
“We want to take them on a four-day nature camp which will focus on mental health, community connection and environmental values.
“They’re (refugee youth) going to co-design this with us so that we will work with them. It’s not just us saying this is what we’re going to do; we want to hear from them.
“They’re going to have some workshops on personal development, respectful relationships, environmental values, self-confidence, self-esteem and community connection.”
Australia Post community and stakeholder engagement general manager Nicky Tracey said she was “delighted” to support a “diverse group of organisations”.
“We take great pride in our Community Grants Program and its role in supporting positive outcomes across Australia,” she said.
“Connecting with others is crucial for our well-being, and the support groups and programs in local communities are essential for fostering this connection.”
