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Government Info & Assistance

About the Office for Youth

The Office for Youth (new window) was set up to give you a voice when it comes to developing government policy and programs, especially regarding those issues that affect you as a young person living in Victoria.

The Office is also a good information source for many things that may affect you including information about your rights at work, government grants, programs and National Youth Week (new window).

Youth programs

The Office for Youth runs a range of programs that you can become actively involved in. The programs and services are designed to encourage young people to be aware of and get involved in their community. They are quite diverse and cover a wide range of interests including:

Advance

If you want to develop your leadership and personal skills, this is a fantastic program where you can contribute to your community by doing voluntary activities that are challenging and fun and give you the opportunity to make a real difference in your community.

Be Heard

The Be Heard! program will provide grants of up to $5000 to community radio stations in rural and regional Victoria to run training workshops in radio broadcasting and also to provide mentoring for young people so they can produce live-to-air shows.

Regional Youth Affairs Network

As a young person, you can have your say to help develop government policy by providing advice on planning and services relating to young people.

Engage

The Victorian Government has committed $12.3 million over three years to the 2012-2014 Engage! program (previously known as the Youth Participation and Access program) to support the social, civic and economic participation of young people which has a long lasting effect on their development.

FReeZA

You can help organise an alcohol and drug free music or other cultural event in your local area.

Involve

There are many ways that you can get involved in making a difference in your community - from organising a local gig, to working with local government on youth issues or hotly debating topics in Youth Parliament.

The Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI)

This is a strategic, coordinated framework for mentoring young people.

Scouts and Guides

The Victorian Government is helping Scouts Victoria and Girl Guides Victoria by: Funding the improvement of buildings and facilities Training volunteers, Encouraging more people from multicultural communities to join and by Funding the development of new facilities at Gilwell Park Camp

Youth Policy and Research

Research into youth issues is happening right now across Australia and the Office for Youth provides you with an opportunity to be a part of it. You can have your say and provide direction for government policies in Victoria and at a national level that will directly affect you.

Youth Participation and Access

This is a three-year program that helps community and local government organisations to provide support and assistance for young people to help them get through a difficult time.

Youth Foundations Victoria

Offers genuine opportunities for young people to make a real difference to their communities. The Foundations are made up of young people wanting to be involved in fund-raising and funding youth led activities that are needed in their local community.

Find more about the above programs in our 'Youth programs' section.

Have your say

The Office for Youth wants to hear your views and those of the communities and organisations with which you are involved. Your input will help the Victorian Government to develop policies and programs that meet your needs and are of benefit for you.

Links

Office for Youth
Provides information about the government's vision for young people. You can find information here about the programs and services they offer, Youth Week, grants, your rights at work and more.

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
An independent, non-government, leading youth advocate that consults with government on issues that directly affect young people living in Victoria.

Centre for Multicultural Youth
Another independent and non-government organisation that is dedicated to giving young Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds the opportunity to create better life experiences.

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