News and Events
Media Releases
View Victorian Government media releases by date, minister and/or department.
2009 National Youth Week grants
The Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino urges young people to take part and enjoy themselves to make the most of National Youth Week, which will run from 10-18 April next year.
“Young people make significant contributions to our society and our communities and we believe it is extremely important that they be acknowledged and provided the opportunity to celebrate their achievements”, Mr Merlino said.
Youth Week is the largest annual celebration of young people in Australia and the theme for the 2010 celebrations is "Live it Now".
Young people wishing to apply can find useful support material on youthcentral, the Victorian Government website for young people.
Victoria’s first-ever cyber bullying summit
The Premier John Brumby and Education Minister Bronwyn Pike today joined more than 240 year 10 students from 60 schools across the State for the Leading Responsibly in a Digital World Student Summit on safe and responsible online behaviour.
Addressing the Summit, Mr Brumby said acting with respect was just as important in cyberspace as it was in everyday life.
"Young Victorians in particular have embraced this cyberspace revolution at home and at school, but the openness and ease of online communication comes with a downside - threats, hacking, inappropriate comments and bullying.
"Parents and students have told us they are concerned about cyber bullying, which is why we organised this important summit in partnership with government and non-government schools across Victoria.
"Respect for ourselves, others and our community is the key to a healthy, friendly and productive community - both on and offline.
"The Summit is a key part of our Government's plan to promote respect and I applaud these young people for taking on the role of custodians of this new technology and helping to shape the way online communication is used and developed in the future."
Ms Pike said the Year 10 students, together with around 60 teachers, would discuss their experiences in online communication, examine ways to foster and promote health and respectful online relationships, and develop positive action plans that they take can back to their schools and share with classmates.
More information.
City of Melbourne Safety Website
City of Melbourne have developed a website where people up to the ages of 25 can talk about safety in the city including alcohol and drug associated violence, the availability of public transport (especially at night) and the need for safe spaces in the city.
Visit www.yourcityspace.com.au to share your views for a safer Melbourne.
Family Separation: A guide for teens
The Australian Government's Child Support Agency (CSA) have created the Family Separation: A guide for teens website to support for teenagers through this challenging time.
Positive Body Image makes a real stand against fake advertising
Young people get a heads up that real life doesn’t need retouching.
Launching the ‘Real life doesn’t need retouching’ MySpace advertising at the Melbourne Museum, Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino said the ad is ultimately an affirmation to young people that they are great just the way they are.
“We are all bombarded by images of the supposed ‘perfect body’ on billboards, TV and in magazines, and while many of us know that these images are digitally manipulated, many vulnerable young people can develop a distorted perception of ideal body shape and how they feel about themselves,” Mr Merlino said.
“Through the ‘Real life doesn’t need retouching’ ad, we want to support young people to understand that often the images they see are not real and are not what they should aspire to look like.”
The Real life doesn’t need retouching advertisement forms a small part of the Victorian Government’s Positive Body Image Strategy – providing $2.1 million over four years through the Teenagers ‘Go for your life’ program.
The Positive Body Image Strategy was launched in 2006 and aims to provide education and raise awareness among young people about positive body image as well as opportunities for young people to develop their own solutions to body image issues.
“Ultimately, we want young people to respect, accept and celebrate their unique body shape, and feel comfortable and happy about who they are as individuals.”
For more information, please go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au.
Victoria Leads the Way with Body Image Code
The Victorian Government is proudly leading the way in launching Australia's first-ever code on how the media can be encouraged to present images to promote positive self-esteem and body image in young people.
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino has launched the Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image. Signing up to the code the Minister was joined by Jo Stanley from Fox FM, former swimmer Nicole Livingstone OAM and netballer Sharelle McMahon, along with leading academics, fashion, retail and media representatives.
The Victorian Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image is a significant step in encouraging changes in the way images are portrayed and in improving body image in young people.
For more information visit the Positive Body Image page.
Victoria Rocks
Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky and Minister for Youth Affairs James Merlino launched Victoria Rocks; a package for grants and initiatives aimed at boosting Victoria’s contemporary music scene and assisting local bands and musicians in inner city and in rural and regional Victoria. The Victoria Rocks program offers $7.1 million program funding support to independent musicians and bands to break into the industry or to further their careers. The package was developed by Arts Victoria, the Office for Youth and Tourism Victoria and comprises the following : 1) Funding to equip musicians is available under three categories:
For further information, application forms and funding dates on the Music Career Building, Music Touring and the Strategic Music Industry partnership grants visit the Arts Victoria website Victoria Rocks funding program or
Victoria Rocks MySpace
2) Also included is $2.4 million to continue the successful youth
3) The third component is $1.3 million for a Musical Equipment Grants program and the associated 'A place to rock' initiative. These grants will help communities to build a library of musical equipment, from mobile staging, to PA systems and CD recording equipment, which will be a huge boost to young people that can’t currently access what they need to pursue their musical passion.