AusLeisure

As COVID restrictions ease across Victoria and with a focus on young people, 280 local organisations are to share in $3 million of funding to continue supporting their communities to reconnect and improve their health and wellbeing.

The newly funded projects are part of VicHealth’s 2021 Reimagining Health grant round which will see grassroots organisations, clubs and groups make even more of a difference to the wellbeing of their communities.

The Reimagining Health grants will support more Victorians to access healthy and affordable food, reconnect socially and get active following the challenging and ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

Funded projects include:

•Mzuri Dance and African Communities Foundation establishing dance classes for African Australian young people aged six - 13 years, creating a vibrant social hub for young members of their community;

•Football Victoria expanding their MiniRoos Kick Off and GoLocal programs aimed at seven -12 year olds into new regional areas, including East Gippsland and Wimmera; and

•Health Futures Australia’s Young Growers and Healthy Lunch Kitchen program providing nutritious school lunches to regional communities in the Hepburn area, while providing employment to 16-18 year olds in their local community.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley notes “community organisations are the heart of our communities. It’s fantastic to see 280 of them preparing to deliver their creative, local solutions to support Victorians to socially connect, access healthy and affordable food and be more physically active when restrictions allow."

VicHealth Chief Executive Dr Sandro Demaio said local organisations, such as sports clubs, arts organisations and community gardens, were key to supporting Victorians through an incredibly challenging time and adds “Protecting our health and wellbeing is more important than ever. We’re thrilled to partner with 280 innovative, locally-led and owned projects, which will support communities as we navigate the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 bushfires.”

Young people were involved in the grant selection process, providing them with a meaningful opportunity for their voices to be heard when considering projects that benefit other young people and local communities.

20-year-old Bronya Kondzior, a member on the advisory panel, said it’s important for young voices to be heard in decision making and explains “by including young voices in decision making, it helps create a community that is for everyone. I look forward to watching these projects come to life, and with them positive and long-lasting outcomes for Victorians of all ages, cultures, backgrounds and abilities.”

For more information on the Reimagining Health Grants go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/funding/reimagining-health-grants 

Image: Football Victoria expanding their MiniRoos Kick Off courtesy playfootball.com.au/miniroos/kotd

Related Articles

28th April 2021 - VicHealth partners with 16 councils to offer young people more decision-making opportunities

3rd March 2021 - VicHealth funds grassroots organisations to improve health and wellbeing

10th December 2020 - VicHealth delivers $3.9 million to support Victorian communities in COVID-19 recovery

1st December 2020 - VicHealth and Burnet Institute research highlights impact of COVID-19 on young Australians’ mental wellbeing

1st December 2020 - VicHealth’s This Girl Can campaign inspired large number of Victorian women to keep moving through COVID restrictions

12th October 2020 - VicHealth and AFL encourage families to get active on way to school as restrictions lift

11th September 2020 - VicHealth study shows food delivery services pushing unhealthy options in low-income suburbs

28th August 2020 - VicHealth applauds council pop-up cycle lanes and footpaths

7th August 2020 - New VicHealth study finds LGBTI+ community still experiencing social barriers to sport participation

26th June 2020 - VicHealth continues to promote LGBTI+ inclusion in community sport

23rd June 2020 - VicHealth announces new funding for community sports clubs across Victoria

7th April 2020 - AFL players join with VicHealth to promote wellness during Coronavirus shutdown

2nd March 2020 - VicHealth’s new This Girl Can campaign focuses on positive feelings

26th February 2020 - VicHealth considers new industry code on unhealthy food advertising to be ineffective

21st January 2020 - VicHealth calls for higher standards on fast food marketing to teenagers and children

19th November 2019 - VicHealth offers new funding to sports clubs

16th August 2019 - VicHealth set to launch a new This Girl Can campaign

19th July 2019 - VicHealth to offer new fun and inclusive sport programs

8th July 2019 - New Chief Executive appointed at VicHealth

1st July 2019 - VicHealth grants provide opportunities for increased community sport participation

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.