The Andrews Labor Government is providing a $25 million funding boost for youth programs, offering more opportunities for young people to reconnect with their communities as the state recovers from the pandemic.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that five organisations in Western Victoria will share in $10.2 million through the FReeZA Program and $15 million through the Engage! Program.
FReeZA funds organisations to deliver youth‑friendly music and arts events across Victoria.
In Western Victoria, recipients include:
| Organisation Name | Project Name | Funding | Project Description |
| Colac Otway Shire Council | Connexions | $53,250 | The goal of Connexions is to enable young people’s participation in community life through leading the planning, development and delivery of music, cultural and recreational events. |
| Corangamite Shire Council | Sync n Swing | $88,650 | Sync n Swing empowers young people to design and deliver their own interest-led events. |
| Glenelg Shire Council | Glenelg FReeZA | $106,500 | Guided by the youth-led FReeZA Crew, Glenelg FReeZA maintains a strong reputation for providing high quality, exciting events across the Glenelg Shire. |
| Moyne Shire Council | Moyne FReeZA | $106,500 | Youth4Moyne FReeZA program is a youth led program that is committed to engaging youth to plan and deliver affordable music, arts and cultural events in a safe and secure environment within the Moyne community. |
| Warrnambool City Council | FReeZA Warrnambool: Connect Shape Create | $106,500 | Connect Shape Create works with young people to facilitate youth arts, culture and recreation. It comprises a core program of interrelated creative industry activities that engage young people as creators, presenters, and participants in youth culture. |
All FReeZA events are drug, alcohol and smoke-free and designed by young people. Events provide important performance opportunities for local young and emerging artists. Hundreds of communities around the state will benefit from young people gaining industry experience and pathways into employment.
The Government is proud to partner with youth music organisation The Push, with $1.4 million to ensure FReeZA events continue to meet the contemporary needs of young people and Victoria’s world class music and creative arts industries.
Engage! events are co‑designed with young people to deliver a broad range of activities including mentoring, building life skills and showcasing their creativity and talents.
To find out more about Engage or FReeZA, visit youthcentral.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“This funding boost will give young Victorians in Western Victoria more opportunities to develop their skills, express themselves creatively and make change in their community.”
“We are supporting youth organisations and local government to engage with young people and make a lasting difference within their communities.”
Quote attributable to The Push CEO Kate Duncan
“It is great that young people across Victoria are encouraged to showcase their talents and fully embrace the power of live music, arts and community events through grassroots programs like FReeZA.”
