Progress: implementing the Victorian African Communities Action Plan

Domain

Initiative

Progress update

Across all domains

Community Innovation Grants 

$240,000 over one year

The Community Innovation Grants Program will provide funding to African community organisations and community groups based in Victoria to deliver innovative community projects which support the inclusion and participation of Victoria’s African communities.

• Applications for the Community Innovation Grants Program closed on 7 February 2020 and 130 applications were received.

• The program was delayed due to the recent impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

• Assessment of applications has recommenced, with the assessment panel expected to meet in late June 2020.

Employment

Community Employment Brokers and Employment Capacity Building

$2 million over two years

The Community Employment Brokers and Employment Capacity Building Program will support community organisations with significant reach into Victoria’s African communities to engage and host African community employment brokers to provide tailored support to jobseekers of African heritage. Employment brokers and host community organisations will be provided with tailored training and support.

• Applications for the Community Employment Brokers Program closed on 7 February 2020 and 43 expressions of interest were received.

• The program was delayed due to the recent impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

• Assessment of the expressions of interest from potential host organisations for the program have recommenced.

• Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcomes in late June 2020, with those shortlisted being invited to submit a detailed application to participate in the initiative. 

Education

Homework club grants, school community liaison officers and Senior Project Officer

$3 million over two years

The Homework Club Grants Program provides funding to community organisations to deliver homework clubs, including after school and parent engagement activities for African Victorian primary and secondary students.

School Community Liaison Officers will work directly with African Victorian school students to help them engage in school, improve their wellbeing and enable them to reach their potential. The School Community Liaison Officers will be based in a host school and work with a cluster of neighbouring schools with a high proportion of students with African heritage.

• Applications for the Homework Club Grants Program closed on 17 March  2020and 22 applications were received. 12 community organisations have been successful in receiving funding. Under the Program, activities are anticipated to commence in Term 3 (from 3 July 2020).

• Six School Community Liaison Officers have commenced working with schools, playing a key role in engaging young people of African heritage and their families during COVID-19 period. Two schools are finalising recruitment of School Community Liaison Officers.

• The Department of Education has employed a Senior Project Officer to support the coordination of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan education initiatives.

Leadership

Board and governance program

$240,000 over one year

The 2020 African Communities Board Leadership and Governance Program will support emerging and established African Victorian leaders to strengthen their governance skills and further their board careers and community leadership through Australian Institute of Company Directors courses.

• Applications for the Board and Governance Program closed on 6 March 2020 and 52 applications were received.

• The Australian Institute of Company Directors assessed applications and made recommendations for 25 participants for the Foundations of Directorship course and 20 participants for the Company Directors course.

• The Foundations of Directorship course commenced on 12 June 2020 and participants of the Company Directors course are being enrolled for sessions from July 2020 onwards.

Health and wellbeing

Alcohol and Drugs Misuse initiative

$600,000 over one year

This initiative will employ drug and alcohol outreach workers to provide specialist services and referrals to other service as required. The initiative will also deliver an education program to improve awareness of drug, alcohol and substance misuse as well as raise cultural competency of service providers hosting outreach workers.

• The Department of Premier and Cabinet is working with the VACAP Drug and Alcohol Sub-Committee and the Department of Health and Human Services to finalise design of this initiative.