THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
MEDIA RELEASE
New funding to build community resilience
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC today congratulated Muslim youth leaders attending a graduation ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
The Attorney-General also announced a further $700,000 in funding for community-based projects that build resilience to radicalisation and violent extremism.
The young men and women were participants in the Australian Muslim Youth Leadership and Peer Mentorship Program, an initiative of the Australian Multicultural Foundation funded under the Government's Building Community Resilience grants program.
The Building Community Resilience grants program is part of the Government's strategy to promote an inclusive and safe Australia.
"I am proud to have witnessed the graduation of a group of young Muslim Australian role models today," Mr Dreyfus said.
"These future leaders have been working hard, supported by the Australian Multicultural Foundation, to build their public speaking and media engagement skills over the past year.
"The Australian Muslim Youth Leadership and Peer Mentorship Program is a great example of the strong commitment communities have demonstrated to tackling radicalisation at the grassroots and the Government is equally committed to supporting their efforts.
"The Building Community Resilience grants program provides funding for activities that empower young people and communities through engagement and providing a range of skills."
The program offers two categories of grants funding - the first category is from $10,000 to $40,000 and the second category is from $40,001 to $120,000 (excluding GST).
"I am delighted to announce another round of funding under this very worthwhile program, which has already proved to be successful in strengthening people's ability to challenge ideologies that can lead to violent extremism," Mr Dreyfus said.
The 2013-14 funding round aims to develop and expand on existing work being done in Australian communities.
The focus is on education and skill development activities which build community resilience and which use the internet to boost the accessibility and interactivity of projects for young people across Australia.
The Building Community Resilience grants program has already supported 50 diverse community-based projects worth more than $4.1 million across Australia.
Information about the program and previously funded projects is available on the Resilient Communities website.
More information on the Building Community Resilience grants program including application forms and guidelines can be found on the Attorney-General's Department website.
THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2013
