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The Albanese Labor Government is investing more than $700,000 in two organisations to deliver innovative projects to improve the lives of young people on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

The Skill Engineer will receive $360,000 over two years for its Nyanga Walang – To give and to learn project, which will support young First Nations people connect to country, transition to high school, build respectful relationships, grow resilience, learn important life skills and foster empowerment.

The Coast Shelter will receive a funding extension of $384,104 in 2023-24 to continue to deliver the Love Bites program, which educates young people about healthy relationships through the delivery of trauma-informed evidence based education.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth – who visited the providers on the Central Coast today – said the Government was proud to support such innovative projects.

“This funding is ultimately about creating safe, respectful and empowered communities, with access to opportunities – and that starts with our young people,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Young people have their whole lives ahead of them, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they have access to information and education to help foster respectful and inclusive attitudes and behaviours from the start.”

“Programs like Love Bites provide young people with age-appropriate consent and respectful relationships education and information that has a lasting positive impact on their attitudes and behaviours,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Consent and education projects are central to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, which describes how all areas of society need to work together over the next 10 years towards ending violence against women and children.”

The Skill Engineer’s Nyanga Walang – To give and to learn project will be funded under the second round of the Strong and Resilient Communities (SARC) Inclusive Communities program.

It is the first project to be announced under the latest round of the SARC program, with a total national funding pool of $10.9 million.

“The SARC program aims to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people on pathways to self-reliance and empowerment through local, community-driven solutions that help them to participate socially and economically,” Minister Rishworth said.