Safe spaces for lgbtiq+ young people in hepburn

The Andrews Labor Government is giving young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians access to additional wellbeing support services located at safe spaces across Victoria. The Chillout Festival will receive $50,000 to build their capacity and strengthen their sustainability.

Chillout is just one of the 22 organisations that will benefit from $3.2 million in funding in the Victorian Budget 2022-23 to support the design and delivery of LGBTIQ+ safe space services.

The funding responds to a community-led proposal that identified the need for further targeted LGBTIQ+ wellbeing support services in the region. Community stakeholders, including local councils, mental health service providers and LGBTIQ+ organisations, contributed to the project proposal.

The safe spaces will have intergenerational and peer support programs to support LGBTIQ+ young people and physical safe space hubs – connecting them with specialised mental health and wellbeing supports close to home.

The funding will also support the establishment of at least two sites across Western Victoria over a three-year trial period. Community consultations will kick off this year to shape the design and delivery of the project.

The Labor Government is also providing $700,000 to 22 LGBTIQ+ organisations and groups across the state as part of the LGBTIQ+ Organisational Development Grants 2022 program.

This will allow them to build on the important work they do supporting LGBTIQ+ communities.

Almost a third of recipients are based in regional or rural areas.

Recipients include 10 new or emerging organisations who will use grants of up to $25,000 to build skills or organisational governance, including Different Journeys, a peer support group who will use funding of $25,000 to help them engage with, support, and celebrate neurodivergent LGBTIQ+

people.

There are also 12 established organisations who will use funding of up to $50,000 to build sustainability and expand their work with diverse LGBTIQ+ communities across Victoria, including LaNCE TV, a regionally based LGBTIQ+ TV show that will use funding of $50,000 to support expansion and develop operational roadmaps.

To see a complete list of LGBTIQ+ Organisational Development Grants 2022 recipients, please visit www.vic.gov.au/successful-recipients-LGBTIQ-organisational-grants

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
" Congratulations to the Chillout Festival. This funding will aid in creating a safe place for our local LGTBIQ+ community. We are delivering on wellbeing and mental health services, where they are needed, close to home"

Quote attributable to Minister for Equality Martin Foley
"We are determined to improve the lives of LGBTIQ+ Victorians, wherever they live – including improving the support available to LGBTIQ+ young people, and backing LGBTIQ+ organisations to reach their full potential."

Quote attributable to Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Todd Fernando
"It’s fantastic to see the incredible, life-saving work happening across our rainbow sector. I thank the communities across western Victoria who came together to make a proposal that would support LGBTIQ+ young people."