Hey grant awarded to daylesford secondary pride brigade

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing its support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) young people through the latest round of Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Project Grants.

Hepburn Shire Council was awarded a $10,000 grant to support Daylesford Secondary College’s Pride Brigade program. The grant will be used to deliver leadership training by Minus18, a trip to Melbourne for a tour JoyFM radio station, raising awareness of bullying at school, a Queer Formal in November and travelling to neighbouring HEY providers to learn about youth programs.

The grant also assisted the program in holding a youth event at last weekend’s ChillOut festival.

The $6 million program aims to raise awareness, promote diversity, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and improve the overall mental health of LGBTIQ+ young people in Victoria.

This funding assists organisations to develop new and innovative approaches to address and support the mental health of young same sex attracted and sex and gender diverse (SSASGD) people in their local communities.

The mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ Victorians is a high priority in Victoria’s 10-year Mental Health Plan which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health and give consumers and their families the support they need. The program is administered and coordinated by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic).

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
"The Daylesford Secondary College Pride Brigade is a brilliant program that gives our young LGBTIQ+ people a way to learn leadership skills while giving them a real sense of belonging."

"Daylesford leads the way on equality – and we want to give our young LGBTIQ community the chance to celebrate their diversity through programs like this."