Funding Win for West Wimmera Shire Council – Youth Leadership and Creative Development Across the Region

What We’ve Achieved

West Wimmera Shire Council has secured a combined $270,000 in Victorian Government funding to deliver two complementary youth programs; Engage! and FReeZA, designed to build leadership capability, wellbeing, creativity and community connection for young people across Goroke, Edenhope and Kaniva.

Grantus led the strategic approach, project framing, grant writing, and all submission requirements, working closely with Council and the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation (WBCF). We also embedded project management and grant administration support to ensure both programs could operate seamlessly, even with differing reporting cycles.

This combined funding has unlocked a major regional benefit: the ability to resource a dedicated youth program facilitator based in the Wimmera, not Melbourne. This enables more consistent engagement, stronger relationships, deeper participation and a more responsive approach to local youth needs.

Funding Context

The Engage! program supports youth leadership, skills development, mentoring and active citizenship through co-designed activities, prioritising youth voice and meaningful participation.

FReeZA funds youth led cultural, arts and music events, giving young people hands on experience in event planning, leadership and creative expression.

By aligning the two programs, Council can deliver a coordinated, year-round youth engagement model that builds skills through Engage! and applies them through FReeZA, maximising impact and consistency across the Shire.

Why It Matters

• Enables a local Wimmera based program facilitator, improving access, relationships and continuity.
• Builds youth leadership, confidence, public speaking, teamwork and project management skills.
• Creates consistent youth led events, projects and workshops across three towns with limited local services
• Strengthens mental wellbeing, belonging and positive participation in rural settings
• Supports creative expression and cultural events that reflect local identity and celebrate youth talent
• Attracts young people who may not engage with traditional Council initiatives by leveraging WBCF’s strong regional presence and relatable delivery model.

About the Project and Next Steps

Both the Engage! and FReeZA programs will be delivered in partnership with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation. This includes leadership training, mentoring, project design sessions, and youth led events in schools and community spaces across Goroke, Edenhope and Kaniva.

The combined delivery model introduces a 12-month cycle that links leadership and skills development (Engage!) with hands-on practice (FReeZA). Young people will codesign session topics, lead planning groups, and deliver community and creative events, building a pipeline of new youth leaders each year.

Next steps include finalising delivery schedules with local schools, establishing project governance, and recruiting the regionally based facilitator to lead on-ground engagement.

Grantus’ Role

• Led the strategy, design and grant applications for both Engage! and FReeZA.
• Aligned project framing to government priorities, including leadership, wellbeing, inclusion and youth voice.
• Integrated local data and insights from youth consultations across West Wimmera.
• Structured a dual program delivery model with shared resources and localised staffing.
• Provided project management support, reporting frameworks and admin capability to manage two programs with separate reporting requirements.
• Ensured strong alignment with WBCF’s “Leaders of the Pack” and youth engagement methodologies.