The City of Kwinana will deliver three youth initiatives using a $100,000 grant from the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) secured in May.
Mayor Carol Adams said an important function of the funding would be to establish a youth mental health advisory group. The program is to be renamed by local young people and will utilise $30,000 of the funds.
"There has been an identified need within the community and surrounds to have a dedicated youth mental health advisory group, and inviting young people in our community to be part of the solution especially as mental health issues are on the increase within our community," Mayor Adams said.
“The group would be open to all young people residing in Kwinana aged from 14 to 25.
“The focus of the group would be to enhance connections, increase belonging and reduce stigma while amplifying the youth voice by creating a platform for young people to be heard on youth mental health issues.
“This will be facilitated by our Youth and Community Wellbeing Team in collaboration with sector experts. The difference with this program is that the lead will be given to the young people within this group to help be part of the solution,” she said.
The second initiative would open the City of Kwinana’s WAPHA Community Grants Scheme using $60,000 on a community funding program.
The City of Kwinana will look to provide funding to empower local community organisations to address youth mental health.
Mayor Adams said this funding would help deliver programs and events to reduce disconnection in the community, increase belonging, increase mental health literacy and education, reduce stigma and suicide risk among young people.
“Initial discussions have identified recreation and sporting activities, engaging young people and families, young men’s groups, young women’s group, youth intervention support programs and cultural camps as potential initiatives to access funds,” she said.
WAPHA and other nominated sector assessors would form the panel members to assess applications against funding guidelines.
The third initiative would use the remaining $10,000 to increase the skills of local organisations to support young people in their mental wellbeing.
Workshops would be delivered throughout the year focusing on identifying and preventing youth mental health and other identified resilience and intervention skills.