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Media Releases
View Victorian Government media releases by date, minister and/or department.
New funding for young Victorians to rock out
Young Victorians across the state will be looking to a career in the music industry as they get access to $10,000 worth of musical equipment in their local communities as part of a new Brumby Government program.
Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino has announced funding for the Central Goldfields in Maryborough, which is one of 26 local government areas to receive funds under the new $1.3 million Music Equipment Grants program.
“The goal is to provide music equipment for Central Goldfields youth, shared with others in their communities, which they would often not be able to afford on their own. For example, Central Goldfields Shire will be purchasing a PA system, acoustic, electric and bass guitars, a keyboard, synthesiser, microphone stands and a practice pad drum kit," Mr Merlino said.
The grants will tie in well with the successful FReeZA program to provide equipment and venues to perform and rehearse locally.
“A key part of the initiative is that young people will manage the equipment in partnership with the community, giving them additional experience and skills,” Mr Merlino said. “As part of the program, local governments have also identified venues in their community where young people can rehearse and perform under the Victoria Rocks - A Place to Rock initiative.”
Mr Merlino encouraged other Victorian councils to submit an expression of interest for grants of up to $10,000 to establish a music equipment bank.
Contact the Office for Youth for more details.
Young Victorians embark on Spirit of ANZACs study tour
Ten Victorian high school students recently won the chance to retrace the footsteps of Australia’s “forgotten ANZACs” who fought a valiant rearguard against on overwhelming German force in the defence of Greece in 1941.
Victoria Premier Mr Brumby said the two week study tour would help the students understand the significance of the Greek campaign which, like the landing on Gallipoli 26 years before, called on all the reserves of courage and tenacity for ill-equipped troops beating a retreat against overwhelming odds.
"The Government set up the Victorian Spirit of ANZAC Prize to inspire young Victorians to learn more about the sacrifices made by our veterans and keep their memory alive in our communities,” Mr Brumby said. Read more about the ten students' journey at youthcentral.
Victoria Leads the Way with Body Image Code
The Victorian Government is proudly leading the way in launching Australia's first-ever code on how the media can be encouraged to present images to promote positive self-esteem and body image in young people.
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino has launched the Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image. Signing up to the code the Minister was joined by Jo Stanley from Fox FM, former swimmer Nicole Livingstone OAM and netballer Sharelle McMahon, along with leading academics, fashion, retail and media representatives.
The Victorian Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image is a significant step in encouraging changes in the way images are portrayed and in improving body image in young people.
For more information visit the Positive Body Image page.
Youth Foundations
Young people in eight communities will now have a real chance to have their say in a Victorian Government program that lets young people decide where community resources should be allocated.
Youth Foundations Victoria (YFV) brings together the Victorian Government, Bendigo Bank Group and local communities to establish local projects across the State. In each location, a group of local young people will come together to form a Young People’s Action Committee (YPAC). This YPAC will look at the needs of their community, and then make recommendations on funding grants that help other young people to run activities that benefit the community.
As of April 2008, three YPACs have been established in Laverton, in Melbourne's West; Whittington, Newcomb and Thomson, in the Geelong area; and Upper Yarra, in Melbourne's North-east.
The Laverton YPAC recently completed their first grant round and awarded grants to two local youth-led projects.
A further 5 locations announced by The Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino, are currently being implemented and will have YPACs established in the coming months. These sites include: Portarlington, including Drysdale and Clifton Springs, West Heidelberg, Trafalgar district, Ashwood/Ashburton/Chadstone, Neerim district. Mr Merlino said the initiative allowed young people to identify the needs of their local community and then allocate funds to their chosen projects.
Over the next two years, Youth Foundations will be established in a further 7 communities across Victoria.
Mr Merlino also announced a Brumby Government grant of $225,000 for the initiative to be developed in Portarlington, with the same funding already going to Upper Yarra, Whittington and Laverton. In each area, funding is matched by the local Bendigo Bank Community Bank partners. Over the next three years, Youth Foundations will be established in 15 communities across Victoria, with the Brumby Government contributing $4.5 million through the Community Support Fund.
Read more on Youth Foundations.
Victoria Rocks
Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky and Minister for Youth Affairs James Merlino launched Victoria Rocks; a package for grants and initiatives aimed at boosting Victoria’s contemporary music scene and assisting local bands and musicians in inner city and in rural and regional Victoria. The Victoria Rocks program offers $7.1 million program funding support to independent musicians and bands to break into the industry or to further their careers. The package was developed by Arts Victoria, the Office for Youth and Tourism Victoria and comprises the following : 1) Funding to equip musicians is available under three categories:
For further information, application forms and funding dates on the Music Career Building, Music Touring and the Strategic Music Industry partnership grants visit the Arts Victoria website Victoria Rocks funding program or
Victoria Rocks MySpace
2) Also included is $2.4 million to continue the successful youth
3) The third component is $1.3 million for a Musical Equipment Grants program and the associated 'A place to rock' initiative. These grants will help communities to build a library of musical equipment, from mobile staging, to PA systems and CD recording equipment, which will be a huge boost to young people that can’t currently access what they need to pursue their musical passion.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
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