Council secures $30,000 grant to support Colac's vulnerable and disadvantaged youth
February 9, 2016
Colac Otway Shire Council has partnered with Colac Area Health to secure a Rural and Regional Local Government Youth Engagement grant of $30,000 to deliver a new 'Growing a Safer Community' project.
This project will use partnerships between local government, schools and community organisations to identify and support vulnerable and disadvantaged youth to establish a better understanding about young people's wellbeing, their concerns around violence and their sense of safety.
Young people who are engaged through the two local secondary schools and community organisations will become the drivers of the project, identifying key safety and wellbeing concerns and providing youth-focussed solutions.
Council's Community Development Manager, Greg Fletcher, said the project would utilise the experience and local knowledge of the existing Youth Development Worker and other professionals who coordinate projects and initiatives out of the Colac Youth Health Hub.
"We need to work with young people to better understand their complex needs and sense of safety to promote their educational attainment, and health and wellbeing," he said.
"The 'Growing a Safe Community' project will provide young people with strategies to reduce levels of fear and anxiety and provide them with opportunities to contribute to decision making about implementing positive changes in their community," he said.
"The project will link young people to a range of opportunities enabling them to continue participating in community life and decision making beyond the project," he said.
Colac Area Health's Director of Community Services, Marg White, said the opportunity to partner with Colac Otway Shire Council to develop and provide programs for young people in our community demonstrated our joint commitment to young people and would strengthen our response to their needs.
"This project will enable young people to develop their ideas and plan activities to improve their sense of safety and wellbeing," she said.
The 'Colac Otway Shire - Growing a Safer Community' project will run from February 2016 – June 2017.
Council Enquiries
(03) 5232 9400