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Health promotion foundation VicHealth has today launched JumpStart! – an initiative to fund hundreds of grassroots projects across Victoria empowering community organisations to create a healthier future for young people through art, play or learning more about their own food culture.

JumpStart! aims to build vibrant communities by creating hundreds of community-led food, art and play initiatives for young Victorians, whose lives have been impacted by COVID.

VicHealth will create an alliance of local groups, partnering with them to support children and young people so they can thrive, connect and grow in the wake of the pandemic.

Organisations are encouraged to apply now for JumpStart! which offers a share of $2 million plus assistance to make local projects the best they can be through capacity building, connection with like-minded leaders, resources and access to shared insights from other communities.

JumpStart! is the second major investment in VicHealth’s Future Healthy initiative targeted at Victorians aged 0-25, including families.

Between July and August 2021, VicHealth conducted an online survey of 750 of Victoria’s young people aged 18-25 and 750 of Victoria’s parents and carers of children aged 6-17. The survey explored their barriers and attitudes towards what makes communities healthy, as well as social connection, physical activity and access to healthy food. The research found:

• 71% of young people say staying socially connected has become one of the most important issues for them during Covid-19 while 84 per cent say being socially connected is vital for their mental wellbeing
• 76% say having access to healthy food near home is one of the most important things to them
• 69% say having no sports or activities they enjoy near home impacts on their physical activity

Sarah Loh, VicHealth Executive Manager of Future Healthy advises “Young Victorians have spoken. And we’ve listened. The past two years have been incredibly challenging to say the least, with so much time spent indoors.

“Children and young people need more opportunities to have fun, be physically active and hang out with friends again. We want to make this easier by helping them reconnect in ways that suit them. That might be through art, play or learning more about their own food culture together.

“We’re keen to hear from local groups who share this vision so we can bring their ideas to life. Through JumpStart! we will fund hundreds of grassroots projects across the state.

“Our main focus is on children and young people who face the greatest barriers to reaching their full health potential – whether that be family income, cultural background, postcode, gender or disability.”

JumpStart! applicants will need to show how they can create opportunities for children and young people to do one or more of the following:

• Connect through arts, cultural and play-based activities
• Learn about their own food culture and identity and share this with others
• Get physically active in welcoming and inclusive places

JumpStart! has been welcomed by Zarah Jali from Cranbourne, one of VicHealth’s Future Healthy Community Champions who shares “I think for young people, having social programs and activities that reignite our passions and interests will allow us the opportunity to find a sense of community again and rebuild our confidence about going back into society.”

As part of Future Healthy, VicHealth is working with 14 Community Champions – a diverse group of young people and parents across Victoria who are passionate about creating healthier communities. The Community Champions will encourage more young people and parents to have their say and help shape the solutions needed for people to lead healthier, happier lives.

See Zahra’s story and meet VicHealth's other Community Champions

About JumpStart! and how to apply

JumpStart! is the second major investment delivered through VicHealth’s Future Healthy initiative. Launched in September 2021, Future Healthy is investing $45 million in new programs over three years to support people aged 0-25 to build back better, reconnect socially and safely, get active, and enjoy good food. 

Submit your JumpStart! application from 6:00am Tuesday 15th February. Applications close 11:59pm, Thursday 17th March 2022. There will be a second round opening in July.

A simple application process has been created, supported by free online sessions. Find out more and apply at Future Healthy JumpStart! 

For more information go to VicHealth’s Future Healthy initiative 

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