Youth Affairs Council Victoria

We’ve got you covered with practical tips and resources that will help keep LGBTIQA+ young people feeling safe and supported 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ This is more important than ever because:  👉 It’s Wear It Purple Day this Friday 30 August  👉 There’s been an increase in targeted attacks against LGBTIQA+ events  👉 The Federal Government are making a disappointing decision to not follow through with recognising all LGBTIQA+ people on the 2026 Census  Read the full article to find out more. Please share this with your networks!     #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Queer #Pride #YoungPeople #Victoria

ANNOUNCEMENT: On behalf of the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Partners, Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) wish to congratulate Joe Ball on his appointment as the new Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities.      Joe Ball has an extensive history of advocating for the rights of LGBTIQA+ young people, making him uniquely placed to uplift their voices in his role. During Joe’s time as CEO of Switchboard Victoria, he oversaw the creation of the Rainbow Door helpline for family violence and mental health support, and the creation of CHARLEE, an LGBTIQA+ Suicide Prevention Hub.      At a time of rising discrimination against transgender, gender diverse and non-binary young Victorians, it is incredibly important to have positive representation of LGBTIQA+ communities and to showcase their strengths. Joe is a proud transgender man and tireless advocate for the lived experience of LGBTIQA+ communities informing policies and programs in Victoria.       Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/g-ae4u4E   #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Queer #Pride #YoungPeople #Victoria

The Victorian Government has, yet again, broken their promise.  Last week, the Parliament’s upper house passed the Youth Justice Bill, which raises the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old.   While a step in the right direction, this is not what they agreed to and it does not go far enough. We urge the Victorian government to keep its promise and raise the age to 14, without exceptions. We need to listen to Aboriginal communities and invest in services that keep young people connected to community, culture and education. Here’s what else we have to say:    💻 Read our media release: https://lnkd.in/g95Nhq5C     📻 Tune into what our CEO Mary Nega told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): https://lnkd.in/gDURdVUG (listen from 1:25:34 – 1:26:51) https://lnkd.in/gvt7fpW8    📖 Learn more about the Victorian Government’s amendments: https://lnkd.in/gykfdgDi    #RaiseTheAge #AgeofCriminalResponsibility #YouthJustice #Victoria #Advocacy #SpringSt #GettingYJRight

HIRING: A range of roles across our vibrant organisation 👇    🤳 Media and Communications Coordinator (4 – 4.5 days)  Applications close Friday 16 August – this week!    💸 Finance, Administration and Facilities Officer (5 days)  Applications close Sunday 25 August    📣 Advocacy Manager - Policy and Communications (5 days, negotiable)  Applications close Friday 30 August    Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gQ4zWuRg    Please share with your networks!    Note: We are not accepting applications through LinkedIn. Please read each position description carefully. #Job #Hiring #Opportunity #Advocacy #Media #Finance #YoungPeople #Youth #Melbourne

Last week, Victoria’s new Youth Justice Bill passed in the Lower House. It’s set to be debated next week in the Upper House. It proposes some promising changes. However, the government's promise from last year — to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 by 2027 — is so far nowhere to be seen. Youth workers and community-based prison alternatives are ready to support children. We’re calling on the Parliament to vote in support of these critical reforms to Victoria’s youth justice system. Want to learn more and find out how you can help? Read our full article. #YoungPeople #Youth #Justice #RaiseTheAge #GettingYJRight #SpringSt 

If someone discloses an act of sexual violence to you, knowing how to respond with care, support and understanding can make a significant difference to their recovery.     👉 Watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/gk3uc4sc 👉 Find a Victorian Sexual Assault Service near you: https://lnkd.in/gSjGEqrQ  👉 Learn more about our affirmative consent training Yeah Nah, run by and for young people: YACVic.org.au/yeah-nah If this video raises any tricky feelings and you want to talk to someone, help is available: Safe Steps FV - 1800 015 188 The Royal Women's Sexual Assault Crisis Line - 1800 806 292 Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 Kids Helpline AU 1800 55 1800 Yarning SafeNStrong - 1800 959 563 Rainbow Door - 1800 729 367 or text 0480 017 246 #Consent #ConsentCulture #Relationships #Boundaries #YeahNah #Disclosure #Communication 

You can’t have consent unless everyone involved agrees to what’s happening. That’s why stealthing is now illegal in Victoria. Want to learn more about these new laws? Our affirmative consent training Yeah, Nah is run by and for young people: https://lnkd.in/guBEPFCc If this video raises any tricky feelings and you want to talk to someone, help is available: Safe Steps FV - 1800 015 188  The Royal Women's Sexual Assault Crisis Line - 1800 806 292  Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14  Kids Helpline AU 1800 55 1800  Yarning SafeNStrong - 1800 959 563  Rainbow Door - 1800 729 367 or text 0480 017 246 Watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/g8T8hwyM #Consent #ConsentCulture #Relationships #Boundaries #YeahNah #Stealthing

This is your friendly reminder to submit your HEY grant applications before 11 August 🌈 🤑 Our annual grant program supports LGBTIQA+ young people (25 and under) and existing services to lead projects that improve LGBTIQA+ mental health and wellbeing.  Want to apply? Here’s what you need to do:    🧠 Step 1: Develop your idea  💻 Step 2: Jump onto our HEY grants webpage and read our FAQ page. All your burning questions should be answered on there.   🏳️🌈 Step 3: Submit your grant application through Smarty Grants!    Here’s all the links you need:  🔗 Our webpage: YACVic.org.au/hey-grants  🔗 FAQ page: https://lnkd.in/gMtzencV  🔗 Smarty Grants portal: https://lnkd.in/gNmHteye Victorian Government Uniting Vic.Tas City of Greater Geelong Gippsland Lakes Complete Health headspace Latrobe Community Health Service Minus18 Foundation Parents of Gender Diverse Children Brophy Family & Youth Services Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health Zoe Belle Gender Collective (ZBGC) #LGBTIQA #Queer #Pride #YoungPeople #MentalHealth #Melbourne #Funding #Opportunity 

Youth workers have a responsibility to share reliable sexual health information and services to the young people we work with. Do you know what's available in your area - in person, online or as a mobile service? Here are 12 resources you may not know! 👇 For more content dedicated to rural and regional youth workers in Victoria, straight to your inbox, sign up to YACVic Rural's newsletter Signposts: https://lnkd.in/gMtvb7B9