A Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) will be established in Whittlesea as part of a state-wide program aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing.
Whittlesea was one of five councils selected in the second phase of the SIAG roll-out. Other councils to receive funding include Brimbank, Ballarat, Greater Geelong and Mildura.
A recent council survey revealed more than 30 percent of adults and more than 50 per cent of young people reported feeling lonely in the past week.
Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the funding would help the community at the grassroots.
“This injection of funding is of the utmost importance at the grassroots level. A local Social Inclusion Action Group will allow our community to take the lead in terms of what will work locally to improve social connections and mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
“These groups are built by the community, for the community. Local people are best placed to understand the unique needs of the community and drive effective social connection and participation.”
The group will work collaboratively to identify community needs when it comes to social connection and inclusion and will develop initiatives to support participation from the community.
An expression of interest process will be conducted shortly to select group participants.
