Young LGBTIQA+ Victorians to benefit from HEY grants

THIRTEEN community groups across Victoria will receive more than $100,000 in funding to support young LGBTIQA+ people through the latest round of the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) grants.

The program, now in its 14th year, aims to promote diversity, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and empower young LGBTIQA+ Victorians.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt announced the funding, which is delivered in partnership with the Youth Affairs Council Victoria.

“The Healthy Equal Youth grants are supporting our young people to lead the way in initiatives that celebrate diversity and inclusion while eliminating stigma and discrimination,” Stitt said.

“These projects will help young LGBTIQA+ people to feel safe and empowered to tell their stories – ensuring they can live freely and authentically.”

Since its inception, the HEY program has supported more than 120 organisations with a total of $1.3 million in funding. This year, eight of the 13 funded projects are youth-led, focusing on mental health and social connection initiatives.

Four projects in regional Victoria will receive funding, including the So Let’s Affirm You (SLAY) project in Geelong which will provide gender-affirming kits to trans and gender-diverse youth to improve mental health and reduce isolation.

In Melbourne, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will host a three-day film workshop to help young LGBTIQA+ people develop storytelling skills in a safe and inclusive environment.

The HEY grants program forms part of the government’s broader commitment to improving mental health outcomes for LGBTIQA+ communities across Victoria.

Following the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the government has invested more than $6 billion into mental health and wellbeing services, marking the largest investment in the state’s history.