Young People to Future Proof Fire Affected Communities

Published on 27 January 2023

Mansfield Shire young people aged 12 to 25 years will be supported to lead local bushfire and disaster recovery efforts, future proofing their communities.

A $9.93 million grant ‘Future Proof: Young People, Disaster Recovery and (Re)building Communities’ has been awarded to a consortium led by Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), of which Mansfield Shire Council is a key project partner.

Mayor Cr James Tehan said this significant investment will go straight back to fire and disaster affected communities, funding local youth workers and young peer workers to support youth-led disaster recovery activities.

“Furthering the skills of young people, professionally and personally, to equip them with strong foundations for future work and life is one of the objectives of our Youth Strategy and Action Plan” he said.

Opportunities are available for 10 young locals to form a Youth Advisory Group, who will be supported to lead disaster recovery projects.

Young people across Mansfield Shire will be engaged by this ambitious project where 15 people will be supported to begin their career or attain a qualification in locally useful areas, such as public safety, firefighting, emergency management and community services. 150 young people across Victoria will be engaged, (re)connected and supported through place-based bushfire recovery programs and events.

This 18-month project concludes June 2024. To apply visit https://linktr.ee/youthservicesmansfieldshire

To find out more, contact the Youth Program Coordinator, Jasmine Godfrey, on (03) 5775 8619 or via email youth.services@mansfield.vic.gov.au

This project is a partnership between Mansfield Shire Youth and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria and received grant funding from the Australian Government.