The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to invest in Victoria’s South Sudanese
community, supporting young people and encouraging prevention and diversion away from
the youth justice system.
The African Youth Initiative will receive $150,000 in funding from the Labor Government to
support its efforts in preventing South Sudanese Australian children and young people’s
contact with the criminal justice system.

The African Youth Initiative is delivering five projects, which include –
• Faithful Coalition, a youth-led Christian men’s group with a majority South Sudanese
Australian membership. Activities include weekly meetings, an annual camp and
regular BBQs and sports activities.
• Girl Chat, a social group for young South Sudanese Australian women which provides
a safe space for conversations, networking, and personal development programs.
• Grace Community, an outreach of Melton Uniting Church with strong connections to
the South Sudanese community. Activities include art classes and the Grace
Community Youth Basketball Team.
• Home Court which will host weekly basketball games. It promotes social cohesion
and belonging amongst young men through mental health discussions and annual
tournaments.
• Reclaimed Voices Project a documentary project involving youth South Sudanese
Australian who have had contact with the youth justice system and desisted from
offending.

The Labor Government has invested $500,000 for six community programs and has just
opened an additional round of community grants worth $400,000.
Other organizations receiving funding in Melton include the Sudanese Mother’s Coalition
who received $50,000.

Applications for the new $400,000 grant round will focus on programs that fund and
support projects that strengthen South Sudanese Australian young peoples’ connection to
community and culture through sports, arts, education, training, and pathways to
employment.

These grant rounds support the ongoing work of the South Sudanese Australian Youth
Justice Expert Working Group and continue the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment
to work closely with Victoria’s South Sudanese community. The Expert Working Group will empower South Sudanese Australian leaders and community organisations to run programs, interventions, and support services for young people to help prevent contact with the youth justice system.

To bolster the working groups capabilities, the Government has appointed the South
Sudanese Australian community and church leader Reverend Deacon George Piech Meat, as
Chair of the South Sudanese Youth Justice Advisory Group.

For more information about the Grants and the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice
Expert Working Group, visit justice.vic.gov.au/SSAYJ.

Quotes attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie
“This project by the African Youth Initiative will help to ensure our South Sudanese Australian
young people can fully participate in the vibrant community we have here in Melton”