The Andrews Labor Government is providing a $25 million funding boost for youth programs, offering more opportunities for young people to reconnect with their communities as the state recovers from the pandemic.
Minister for Youth Ros Spence today announced that 84 organisations will share in $10.2 million through the FReeZA Program and 101 organisations in $15 million through the Engage! Program.
FReeZA funds organisations to deliver youth‑friendly music and arts events across Victoria.
This includes Know Your Roots, which will host music events for young people of colour living in the Goulburn Valley region, and Frankston City Council, which will host inclusive and affordable cultural events for youth in the Frankston area.
All FReeZA events are drug, alcohol and smoke-free and designed by young people. Events provide important performance opportunities for local young and emerging artists. Hundreds of communities around the state will benefit from young people gaining industry experience and pathways into employment.
The Government is proud to partner with youth music organisation The Push, with $1.4 million to ensure FReeZA events continue to meet the contemporary needs of young people and Victoria’s world class music and creative arts industries.
Engage! events are co‑designed with young people to deliver a broad range of activities including mentoring, building life skills and showcasing their creativity and talents.
Grant recipients include South East Community Links’ EPIC by Youth, which connects young migrants and refugees in Dandenong to develop their leadership skills, and HipHopportunities’ Bigger Than Hip-Hop, which will help young people in Bendigo build community through hip-hop dance culture.
To find out more about Engage or FReeZA, visit .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Ros Spence
“This funding boost will give young Victorians more opportunities to develop their skills, express themselves creatively and make change in their community.”
“We are supporting youth organisations and local government to engage with young people and make a lasting difference within their communities.”
Quote attributable to The Push CEO Kate Duncan
“It is great that young people across Victoria are encouraged to showcase their talents and fully embrace the power of live music, arts and community events through grassroots programs like FReeZA.”
Reviewed 09 December 2021