Your Community, Country & Council : VLGA Receives Funding to Boost First Peoples’ Participation in Local Government

The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shaun Leane MP has announced a grant of $50,000 from Local Government Victoria (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) to continue the important work of the Victorian Local Governance Association’s (VLGA) project, Your Community, Country & Council (YCCC) for the 2021-22 year.

A meaningful increase in Aboriginal representation and active participation with Victorian local governments requires a concerted effort. Over the next 3 years, Your Community, Country and Council plans to address the chronic underrepresentation of First Nation peoples in Victorian local government and increase trust in local government decision-making and processes.

In the first 12 months of the project, the VLGA will revisit and evaluate the 2016 & 2020 programs and develop a detailed project plan and content for delivery ahead of the local government elections in 2024.

Key elements of the 2021-22 project include:

• Employing a Project Lead with strong links to First Nations communities, who will see the project from scoping through to implementation
• Establishing a YCCC Steering Committee
• Outreach to past and future participants of the program
• Development of workshop content and content review
• Interest and knowledge-building sessions
• Project Plan for 2022-24

In 2016 & 2020, the VLGA received a small grant from the Victorian Government to deliver the YCCC project ahead of the Victorian local government elections.

The 2020 YCCC project was led by Charles Pakana of Connection Matters Radio on behalf of the VLGA, with the primary objective to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to nominate as candidates in the October 2020 Victorian local government elections.

A meaningful increase in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander representation and active participation within Victorian local governments will require a concerted effort over the next four years. The VLGA welcomes this funding announcement which will enable YCCC to continue its important work.

ENDS:

Quotes attributable to VLGA Chief Executive Officer, Kathryn Arndt:

A key objective of the VLGA is Good Governance Leadership. Part and parcel of this is working to attract and support good calibre councillor candidates reflective of the community they serve.

A meaningful increase in Aboriginal representation and active participation with Victorian local governments requires a concerted effort.

The VLGA is looking forward to continuing this important work with our project, Your Community, Country & Council and welcomes the support of the State Government.

Media Contact: Deborah Wu – 0433 046 101