Funding for Campaspe youngsters to Engage!
Young people across Campaspe Shire are set to benefit from significant Victorian government funding.
The state’s Office of Youth opened both Engage! and FREEZA funding in a competitive grants process, with both funding streams being awarded to Campaspe Shire Council in January.
The Engage! funding totals $180,000 and will be put towards enhancing youth participation and engagement, youth development and youth celebration in the local area.
Mayor Chrissy Weller said the funding would create substantial opportunities for Campaspe youth.
“This is a fantastic outcome for our young people,” she said.
“Council will continue to grow the wide range of youth-focused activities, events and opportunities, which can be easily accessed and available to everyone.
“The subsequent programs will offer a wide variety of skills-building opportunities, with a particular focus on leadership roles, training, public speaking, event marketing, planning and management.
“These skills will help our youth moving forward, whether that’s into further education or employment pathways.”
Cr Weller also welcomed the FREEZA funding, which totals $53,250.
“FREEZA is a Victorian Government initiative that supports young Victorians to get involved in their community by planning and running drug-, alcohol- and smokefree events for other young people,” she said.
“This funding will be used to organise cultural, recreational and artistic events, located in supervised and safe venues.
“Most importantly, these events will provide platforms for young people to reconnect. The pandemic put a pause on many social outlets, which are so important for the development of young minds.
“We are extremely excited to receive this funding, which allows youth-led events to expand and grow.”
Campaspe Shire 2022 Young Citizen of the Year and Campaspe Youth Advisory Group member Dimity Pearson said group members were ecstatic when informed of the successful funding.
“The entire Youth Advisory Group are excited to finally be able to put some action into our words, plans and hopes. The Engage! funding will give us the opportunity to create one of our initiatives, ‘Youth Action Plan 2022-2024’,” she said.
The Nanneella resident, 21, was named Young Citizen of the Year for her work with local youth.
“During the past two years, although we didn’t have the ability to organise and create events physically, we had plenty of time to think and imagine what we could do to better our community for young people in the years to come,” Ms Pearson said.
“Having the funding provided to council and YAG will give us a head start and has provided us with a sense of hope and achievement for future activities, groups and events.”
Both funding streams will be expended over a threeyear period.