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Giving Tomorrow’s Leaders A Greater Say Today

15 August 2016

The Andrews Labor Government is giving young Victorians in rural and regional areas more opportunities to have a greater say in the decisions that affect their communities.

Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today opened a new grants round for the Labor Government’s Rural and Regional Local Government Youth Engagement Program, which gives young people a chance to contribute to local government and community decision-making.

Young people are our future, and they want to be heard. The program will empower young people to voice their own unique ideas and concerns, and play an active role in shaping their community.

Rural and regional councils can apply for funding of up to $30,000 for strategies and initiatives that increase the involvement of young people in planning and community decisions. The Labor Government has already allocated $212,000 for seven councils to give young people a better say.

We know young people can face challenges in participating in community decision-making. The Rural and Regional Local Government Community Engagement Program is targeting young people from multicultural backgrounds, young people in areas of low-socio economic backgrounds and LGBTI young people.

The new grants round follows our Youth Policy and Engagement Strategy announced earlier this year, which is redefining the ways young people have a chance to be heard so that they can help shape the issues that matter to them.

For more information or to apply online visit www.youthcentral.vic.gov.auExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos

“Today’s young Victorians are tomorrow’s leaders. We want to give them more of a say in the decisions that matter to rural and regional communities.”

“Young people want to be heard, and they want to be engaged by governments. It’s important that they’re embedded in the decision-making process.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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