Media Releases

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has invited local young people in western Victoria aged 12-25 years to apply to join the Victorian Coalition Government’s Youth Ministerial Advisory Committee – Involve.
“The Involve Committee would give 19 young people the chance to have input into government decision-making by providing direct advice and feedback on issues affecting Victorian young people,” Mr Delahunty said.
“This is an opportunity for young people in western Victoria to make their views known, so I am encouraging keen young people who want to make a difference and be involved in your community, to apply for the to be an Involve Committee representative,” Mr Delahunty said.
The Involve Committee is made up of eight young people aged 12 to 17, eight aged 18 to 25, and one youth representative each from the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, the Centre for Multicultural Youth and the Koorie Youth Council.
Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the Coalition Government was committed to listening to the voices of young Victorians.
“It is important we listen to and provide opportunities for young Victorians to fully participate and get involved in their community and government decision-making.
Mr Delahunty said the Involve committee is part of the Coalition Government’s youth engagement strategy which includes the Engage! grants, Youth Parliament, Shape It! and National Youth Week.
“Involve also provides young western Victorians with the opportunity to meet with community leaders and develop skills and networks through training,” Mr Delahunty said.
For more information about Involve and to download an application form go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/involve
Applications close 11 March 2013.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is inviting students in the Lowan electorate to apply for The Nationals Scholarship for Young Leaders.
“The Nationals Scholarship will assist students from rural and regional Victoria in their chosen tertiary pathway,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The Nationals are committed to ensuring that regional and rural young people continue to reach their potential through higher education and training opportunities,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The scholarship winners will be chosen based on their academic endeavours, local leadership qualities, community involvement and their commitment to rural life.”
Mr Delahunty said the total value of the scholarship is $5,000 which may be shared amongst one or more successful applicants.
“I want to see more young people remain in or return to the region to make their future.  The Nationals Scholarship for Young Leaders is a wonderful initiative and has been a great success and I encouraged students from western Victoria to apply,” Mr Delahunty said.
The Nationals are proud to support regional and rural students pursuing their tertiary studies and promoting exceptional leadership qualities from future leaders, especially those committed to the future development of regional and rural Victoria.
The selection criteria for The Nationals Scholarship include the applicant’s academic record, leadership qualities and community involvement. It is intended that The Nationals Scholarship be awarded to students who are intending to return to or remain in country Victoria after their course and demonstrate a career commitment that will ultimately benefit rural and regional Victoria. Special consideration may also be given to students in hardship situations.
“I encourage all school leavers and young people progressing with tertiary studies in 2013 to consider applying for the Young Leaders Scholarship.” Mr Delahunty said.
The application process will be open until March 15, 2013. Application forms can be downloaded from The Nationals website: www.vic.nationals.org.au

Families in Casterton will have greater access to childcare and family services with construction to begin on the $1.9 million Casterton Child and Family Complex project, which is being funded with the support of $1.1 million in Victorian Coalition Government grants.
Member for Lowan and Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Hugh Delahunty and Member for Western Victoria David Koch were in Casterton today to mark the start of construction for this much needed community facility.
Representing Deputy Premier Peter Ryan at today’s event, Minister Delahunty said the Coalition Government was committed to increasing access to high-quality early childhood services for all Victorian children.
“The Casterton Child and Family Complex project aims to provide a much needed purpose-built facility, with important childcare and family service options for children, families, local service providers, staff, as well as the general community,” Minister Delahunty said.
“Currently there is no long day-care provision in this district, however, once completed, this project will provide integrative, inclusive and collaborative early childhood services in something of a ‘one stop shop’ that will meet community needs.” Minister Delahunty said.
Representing Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell, Mr Koch said the new facility would feature a number of important services, including:
•  long day-care;
•  inclusion support;
•  kindergarten (15 hours per week);
• playgroup;
•  outside school hours care;
•  allied health and other professional consulting services;
•  family support services, such a parenting and training programs;
•  maternal and child health services; and
• a toy library.

Minister Delahunty and Mr Koch said the Coalition Government had provided $500,000 towards the total project cost through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, with a further $600,000 being provided through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program.
The remaining $800,000 to complete the project had been sourced from a range of dedicated groups including the local Glenelg Shire Council and the Casterton Childcare Action Committee, which raised $81,000.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said young people in the Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) will benefit from a $30,000 Local Government Youth Inclusion Grant designed to support them to have their say in local decision-making.

“The Horsham Rural City Council is one of nine local councils to share in $270,000 in grants. The funding is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Shape It! Strategy,” Mr Delahunty said.

The HRCC’s “Young Voices help with Choices” is a committee of young people and council staff to coordinate the project that will identify issues of importance to young people in the municipality and the best mechanisms for ongoing youth engagement.

Young people will be involved through forums, surveys, social media and face to face meetings. The project will also develop a Youth Charter and information kit on youth engagement and involving young people in local decision making.

“Shape It! is a Coalition Government plan to give young people in rural and regional areas a chance to better connect with and shape their communities,” Mr Delahunty said. 

“The Coalition Government is providing $3.2 million to support young people in rural and regional Victorian to get involved in local government decision-making, leadership development programs, networking online and meeting with other young leaders across Victoria.

“I’m delighted to announce that the Horsham Rural City Council and young people in the area will benefit from this latest round of funding,” Mr Delahunty said.

“These grants enable young people to get involved, to find their voice and be counted when it comes to local government decision’s that impact on them.”

“I want to see more young people remain in country Victoria to build their future and it is important that rural young people feel involved and able to contribute to the development of their community,” Mr Delahunty said.

“By staying connected they are far more likely to remain involved in and be an active member of their community,” Mr Delahunty said.

Further grants will be available over the next two years.

More information on the grants can be found at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/youth

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said young people in the Glenelg Shire Council will benefit from a $30,000 Local Government Youth Inclusion Grant designed to support them to have their say in local decision-making.

“The Glenelg Shire Council is one of nine local councils to share in $270,000 in grants. The funding is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Shape It! Strategy,” Mr Delahunty said.

The “Voices and Choices – Engaging Youth in the Glenelg Shire” will be young people and Council working together to develop youth engagement resources for use across council and build the capacity of staff.

“Shape It! is a Coalition Government plan to give young people in rural and regional areas a chance to better connect with and shape their communities,” Mr Delahunty said. 

“The Coalition Government is providing $3.2 million to support young people in rural and regional Victorian to get involved in local government decision-making, leadership development programs, networking online and meeting with other young leaders across Victoria.

“I’m delighted to announce that the Glenelg Shire Council and young people in the area will benefit from this latest round of funding,” Mr Delahunty said.

“These grants enable young people to get involved, to find their voice and be counted when it comes to local government decision’s that impact on them.”

“I want to see more young people remain in country Victoria to build their future and it is important that rural young people feel involved and able to contribute to the development of their community,” Mr Delahunty said.

“By staying connected they are far more likely to remain involved in and be an active member of their community,” Mr Delahunty said.

Further grants will be available over the next two years.  More information on the grants can be found at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/youth

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the announcement of a number of FReeZa grants for the Lowan electorate.

“These grants support of some excellent programs being run by our young people and local Councils and Health Services across western Victoria which promote a range of supervised, drug, alcohol and smoke free music and cultural events,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Hindmarsh Shire Council and West Wimmera Shire Council each received $58,800.

Hindmarsh Shire FReeZA gives young people the chance to enjoy live music gigs, dance parties and other cultural, recreational and artistic events in safe, supervised environment. FReeZA supports young people to lead the delivery of youth events in their local community. The program also provides important performance opportunities for local musicians and emerging artists to showcase their talents.

West Wimmera Shire Council will organise Freeza events, employing local bands of the Freeza Committee's choice, within townships of Edenhope, Goroke and Kaniva.  Due to our rural remoteness and lack of public transport, buses will be hired to transport our youth to Freeza events in neighbouring Shires.

"The FReeZa grants attempt to engage the youth from all towns and surrounding districts to be involved in decision making and skills that will enhanced their future," Mr Delahunty said.

More than 80 youth organisations and local governments across Victoria will benefit from $5.6 million in funding over three years through the FReeZA program.

Mr Delahunty said the popular FReeZA program, established in 1997, provides more than 130,000 young people aged 12 to 25 with safe, drug, alcohol and smoke free events across Victoria. 

“The FReeZA program is innovative and exciting and gives young people the chance to plan, organise and stage music events in a fully supervised drug, alcohol and smoke free environment.”

“This is an important program as it provides practical opportunities and training for young people to participate in the planning and delivery of music, cultural and recreational events in their local community,” Mr Delahunty said.

"I want to see young western Victorians involved in their local community and decision-making, engaged in education, training and employment, and creating culture, art, music, communities and enterprise," Mr Delahunty said.

For further information about FReeZA, please visit www.freeza.vic.gov.au

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the announcement of a number of FReeZa grants for the Lowan electorate.

“These grants support of some excellent programs being run by our young people and local Councils and Health Services across western Victoria which promote a range of supervised, drug, alcohol and smoke free music and cultural events,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Glenelg Shire and the Western District Health Service each received $73,500

The Glenelg Shire will deliver 15 engaging and relevant activities and events as guided by the youth committee members across the shire. This will occur with the continued delivery the FReeZA in Schools Program, engaging students participating in VCAL.

Opportunities for training and skills development will be provided on a range of topics and will be made accessible and inclusive for all. The Glenelg Shire FReeZA Program will utilize the strong arts community that exists in the area to enable a range of experiences for youth participants.

The Western District Health Service Southern Grampians FReeZA program will provide young people between the ages of 12 and 25 with the opportunity to attend accessible music and cultural events over the next three years.

There will be a focus on inclusiveness and youth participation for events to be held in Hamilton, Coleraine, Dunkeld, Balmoral, Glenthompson and Penshurst. This will provide an opportunity for young people to be involved in their local community.

More than 80 youth organisations and local governments across Victoria will benefit from $5.6 million in funding over three years through the FReeZA program.

Mr Delahunty said the popular FReeZA program, established in 1997, provides more than 130,000 young people aged 12 to 25 with safe, drug, alcohol and smoke free events across Victoria. 

“The FReeZA program is innovative and exciting and gives young people the chance to plan, organise and stage music events in a fully supervised drug, alcohol and smoke free environment.”

“This is an important program as it provides practical opportunities and training for young people to participate in the planning and delivery of music, cultural and recreational events in their local community,” Mr Delahunty said.

"I want to see young western Victorians involved in their local community and decision-making, engaged in education, training and employment, and creating culture, art, music, communities and enterprise," Mr Delahunty said.

For further information about FReeZA, please visit www.freeza.vic.gov.au

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the announcement of a number of FReeZa grants for the Lowan electorate.

“These grants support of some excellent programs being run by our young people and local Councils and Health Services across western Victoria which promote a range of supervised, drug, alcohol and smoke free music and cultural events,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Grampians Community Health Nexus Youth Centre received $73,500. 

The Nexus FReeZA program will be directed by local young people who will be actively engaged in committee meetings, planning, training, volunteering and event management within the local community.

The focus will be on developing connections for young people through the provision of relevant, affordable, creative, music and cultural events which is often lacking in rural areas.

This will support local performers in skill and confidence development and provide a platform for regular performance opportunities and potential pathways into a career in the industry.

More than 80 youth organisations and local governments across Victoria will benefit from $5.6 million in funding over three years through the FReeZA program.

Mr Delahunty said the popular FReeZA program, established in 1997, provides more than 130,000 young people aged 12 to 25 with safe, drug, alcohol and smoke free events across Victoria. 

“The FReeZA program is innovative and exciting and gives young people the chance to plan, organise and stage music events in a fully supervised drug, alcohol and smoke free environment.”

“This is an important program as it provides practical opportunities and training for young people to participate in the planning and delivery of music, cultural and recreational events in their local community,” Mr Delahunty said.

"I want to see young western Victorians involved in their local community and decision-making, engaged in education, training and employment, and creating culture, art, music, communities and enterprise," Mr Delahunty said.

For further information about FReeZA, please visit www.freeza.vic.gov.au

 

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is inviting people living in western Victoria to consider nominating high achieving young people for the 2013 Victorian Young Achiever Awards.

“The Young Achiever Awards are designed to recognise, encourage and reward the positive achievements of young Victorians up to 28 years of age,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Awards recognise the achievements of Victoria’s youth in six categories with one of the six category winners being named the Victorian premier’s Young Achiever of the Year.”

The six categories include Harcourts Leadership and Innovation Award; Rent the Roo Sports Award; Academy Graphics Regional Achiever Award; BASF Science and Technology Award; Saward Dawson Community Service and Volunteering Award; and Victorian Government’s Small Business Achievement Award.

The nominated young people will be judged according to specific guidelines including academic achievement, personal goals and other achievements, degree of difficulty and sacrifices made to achieve, personal interests and involvement with wider community and contributions and benefits to Victorian society.

The winner of each category will be presented with a trophy and $2,000 and the overall Victorian Young Achiever of the Year will receive an additional $2,000 and trophy.

“Here in western Victoria we have some outstanding young people and the Victorian Young Achiever Award is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and properly promote the contributions of young people within our communities, and I encourage anyone who knows someone who is a high achiever to consider nominating them for an award,” Mr Delahunty said.

Nominations Close Friday 7th December, 2012 and nomination forms can be downloaded at http://www.awardsaustralia.com//YAA_vic.php

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is calling for enthusiastic young western Victorians aged 16 to 25 years to apply to become the 2013 Victorian National Youth Week Young Member.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is looking for a bright and enthusiastic young person to be Victoria’s youth spokesperson and representative to the National Youth Week planning group,” Mr Delahunty said.
At the national level, each State and Territory is represented by a National Youth Week Young Member.
Mr Delahunty said the National Youth Week Young Member plays an important leadership role in everything, from planning to promoting National Youth Week across Australia.
Victoria’s Young Member is required to be the voice of National Youth Week in Victoria.
Mr Delahunty said role includes undertaking media interviews, blogging on Youth Central, speaking at events, travelling across the state and to Canberra and participating in the planning of Victoria’s event calendar.
“National Youth Week is an annual and important opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions young Vitorians make to our communities,” Mr Delahunty said.
National Youth Week 2013 will take place from Friday 5 April to Sunday 14 April 2013.
For further information about National Youth Week and how to apply for the 2013 Victorian Young Member position visit www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/nyw
Applications for the Victorian Young Member position close on Wednesday 31 October 2012.