News and Events
Media Releases
View Victorian Government media releases by date, minister and/or department.
Youth Foundations Victoria – new areas announced
Minister for Youth Affairs James Merlino MP has announced two additional sites for the Youth Foundations Victoria (YFV) initiative – the Ashburton, Ashwood and Chadstone program and the West Heidelberg program.
“YFV supports young Victorians to take control over decisions that affect them and their wider community while also developing new skills. For example, several young people have already been involved in working with the local partnership group to discuss how the local YFV will work.
“This wonderful initiative supports a group of young Victorians from different backgrounds to come together and consider the needs of their community before allocating grants that help other young people make the improvements they believe are important.”
Youth Foundations will be established in 15 communities across Victoria in partnership with Bendigo Bank Group and local communities, with the Brumby Government contributing $4.5 million through the Community Support Fund.
More information on Youth Foundations
Parliament Listening to the Voices of Young Victorians
Young leaders from across the state tackled issues important to all Victorians part of the 22nd Annual Youth Parliament.
Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino officially opened proceedings at Parliament House and said Youth Parliament provided young Victorians with an opportunity to be heard on a variety of issues.
“Each year Youth Parliament assists young Victorians to develop new skills, such as presenting and defending their arguments, while at the same time learning about the parliamentary process and examining issues they care about.
The Victorian Youth Parliament is made up of 20 teams of six people from a socially and culturally diverse range of rural and metropolitan schools, universities, councils, community groups and YMCA’s from across the state.
“Youth Parliamentarians will debate topics ranging from the subsidisation of university student repayment schemes, controlling the environmental impact from Victoria’s Desalination Plant and a duty of care for the taxi industry.”
Mr Merlino said the Victorian Government funded Youth Parliament and was committed to working with young people to ensure they have genuine opportunities to contribute to building an even better Victoria
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 Victorian 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.
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.
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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