Premier announces $17.7 million to promote respect

The Premier, John Brumby, today unveiled a $17.7 million strategy to promote community respect, as part of the Victorian Government’s actions to build more resilient communities and address alcohol-related violence among young people.

Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government’s Respect strategy would focus on strengthening the connection of young people with their communities through volunteering and programs to address juvenile offending.

“There is great potential in so many young Victorians to change their communities for the better and to breathe new life and enthusiasm in our great volunteer and community organisations,” Mr Brumby said.

“From soup kitchens to football clubs, our Government wants more young people to be involved in and respect their communities. This community respect is crucial to addressing antisocial behaviour issues among some young people.

“The funding that our Government is providing in the State Budget will enable Victorian volunteer and community organisations to reach out to young people in a variety of ways to recruit new members.”

Mr Brumby said a $9.3 million volunteer strategy for community organisations would promote community participation particularly among young people, involving:

• A major awareness and recruitment campaign to promote community participation, particularly by young people;
• Resources and support to help community organisations attract more and younger volunteers; and
• An online single entry access point for volunteering, to include matching services, information and resources for community organisations and people wanting to volunteer.

“Our Government is particularly focused on recruiting young Victorians to our great emergency service volunteer organisations, particularly after the strain placed on those organisations by this year’s terrible bushfires,” he said.

Mr Brumby said volunteer-based organisations like the CFA, the SES and community organisations need more young people.

“Encouraging more young people into volunteer organisations is a win-win-win for young people, the organisation and the community,” Mr Brumby said.

The Minister for Community Development, Peter Batchelor, said that apart from the volunteer initiatives, the Respect strategy also included $4.5 million over two years to extend the innovative Graffiti Removal Program for young offenders; and a $3.9 million campaign to thank volunteers involved in the bushfire relief and recovery effort and help recruit new volunteers to emergency services.