Geelong LGBTQA+ community will benefit from the state government’s latest round of the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) grants.
Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt on Wednesday announced that 13 community groups will share in more than $100,000 of funding from the HEY program.
Now in its 14th year, the HEY grants program aims to promote diversity, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and ensure young LGBTIQA+ Victorians are safe, empowered and celebrated.
The Labor government partners with the Youth Affairs Council Victoria to deliver the grants, which have supported more than 120 organisations and provided more than $1.3 million of funding since 2010.
The So Let’s Affirm You (SLAY) project in Geelong will receive funding to provide gender affirming kits to trans and gender diverse young people to improve mental health and decrease experiences of isolation.
“The Healthy Equal Youth grants are supporting our young people to lead the way in initiatives that celebrate diversity and inclusion while eliminating stigma and discrimination,” Ms Stitt said.
“These projects will help young LGBTIQA+ people to feel safe and empowered to tell their stories – ensuring they can live freely and authentically.”
This year, eight of the 13 projects receiving grants are youth-led – empowering young LGBTIQA+ people to lead mental health and social connection initiatives in their communities.
Four projects in regional Victoria will receive support, including the Over the Rainbow project in Mount Alexander Shire, which connects young LGBTIQA+ people with others in the queer community through events and excursions.
In Melbourne, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will run a three-day film workshop designed to provide LGBTIQA+ young people with the skills and confidence to tell their own stories in a safe and inclusive environment.
In the City of Casey, young people will lead a professional development forum for teachers to boost their understanding and ability to support LGBTIQA+ students.
