New funding to support social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
VicHealth has today announced $340,000 in funding for five projects which support Victorians from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to continue to improve their social and emotional wellbeing.
Among the newly funded projects is the Strong Brother Strong Sister youth mentoring program – the organisation will receive a $150,000 VicHealth Ideas Partnership Grant to expand its highly successful Geelong-based program to Maribyrnong.
In the coming year, Strong Brother Strong Sister will host 50 group workshops and 50 one-on-one mentoring sessions online, and in person when safe, to support young Aboriginal Victorians through the unique challenges the coronavirus pandemic presents.
- A $100,000 Ideas Partnership Grant for the production of Point + Be Proud, a documentary on Aboriginal AFL legend Nicky Winmar and his battles with racism and mental health
- $90,000 in Indigenous Arts Grants for the extension of three projects, which provide Victoria’s First Peoples with career pathways in the writing, fashion and music industries: Melbourne Writers’ Festival First Nations Capacity Building Project, the Indigenous Runway Project – Deadly Fashion Design Program and theBarpirdhila Foundation's Youth Programs.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said we must celebrate the work by Aboriginal-led organisations and support them to improve the health and wellbeing of their own communities.
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The Indigenous Runway Project – Deadly Fashion Design Program will provide opportunities for up to 15 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate in career building activities in the fashion industry. Indigenous Runway Inc. will partner with Kangan Institute to introduce up to 15 Indigenous young people to an exciting world of fashion where brands and independent creativity matters and explore the basic foundations of product development. The program will utilise fashion as a vehicle to reveal new career pathways to young Indigenous people and help push both professional and creative boundaries.
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The Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) First Nations Capacity Building Project will continue to build on ongoing First Nations engagement, a priority in their 2019-2023 strategic plan. MWF will continue working with a First Nations program advisor to drive relationship building, strategy and staff development as they move towards the launch of an ongoing self-determined First Nations program within MWF. This program will lead to greater employment and engagement opportunities for Victorian First Nations writers,readersand community.
- The Barpirdhila Foundation's Youth Programs will continue to provide platforms that nurture, develop and support Aboriginal excellence within the creative industries through regional youth camps, performance opportunities, artist development programs and music industry/business workshops. This funding will enable the delivery of youth music workshops and performances, including Girls Rock! Koori Camps in Healesville and Shepparton, and emerging artist showcase events in professional Melbourne venues for young Aboriginal women and girls who have not performed in public or who are new to performance.
For mental wellbeing support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14, BeyondBlue 1300 224 636, Headspace 1800 650 890 or visit the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. website: vaccho.org.au/