More LGBTQIA+ in the Shire

GOLDEN Plains Shire had received a portion from this year’s State Government HEY grants initiative funding aimed at supporting the municipality’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Utilising the $5000 grant, the Shire is set to partner with Bannockburn P-12 College to deliver a series of initiatives supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community groups to promote diversity, eliminate stigma and improve mental health.

To include anti-homophobia campaigns, training for students and staff and initiating a social support group for LGBTIQA+ youth, the projects will be further supported by Safe Schools, GASP and Headspace Geelong.

Mayor Cr Helena Kirby said council is excited to deliver this new program.

“We’re pleased to have received the HEY grant to deliver inclusive programs at the Shire’s only high school, further strengthening support for LGBTIQA+ young people in our communities,” she said.

“Mental health risk factors for young people in our rural area are significantly higher than those of their metropolitan counterparts and that rates of poor mental health are even more evident in LGBTIQA+ young people.

“This project has been co-designed by young people to improve mental health and wellbeing, social connections and education, whilst being mindful of existing and emerging risk factors, low self-esteem and confidence and social isolation and loneliness.”

As one of 12 organisations around the state to share $110,000 in HEY grants, Labor upper house MP for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney congratulated Shire.

“HEY Grants help promote the importance of embracing diversity within our community,” she said.

“It’s great to see Golden Plains Shire Council receive this grant so that further LGBTIQ+ people in the region can be supported as we move towards COVID-Normal.”

The HEY grants were delivered in the wake of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health Services which found suicide rates in the transgender and gender diverse community higher than any other group and a lack of expert LGBTIQ+ clinicians and counsellors in regional areas.