Youth Minister Dave Kelly today announced additional funding totalling $525,000 to deliver the Youth Pride Network Project, which provides advocacy services for Western Australia’s LGBTIQA+ youth.
The McGowan Government has been supporting the Youth Pride Network since 2020. The new funding for the next two years extends that support through to October 2025.
The additional funding will enable the Youth Pride Network to increase its operational capacity to cover staffing costs, finance events, and undertake outreach services in regional WA.
The Youth Pride Network carry out an important advocacy role for LGBTIQA+ young people, and work to ensure all LGBTIQA+ young people are fully included, accepted, and celebrated by their communities.
They provide accurate and reliable resources, workshops, information, and education for the LGBTIQA+ community and their allies, while working to raise public awareness around the needs and aspirations of LGBTIQA+ young people.
Since 2020 the Youth Pride Network have developed numerous policy documents to government as part of their advocacy work, including a report on LGBTIQA+ young people’s experience of the accommodation system, and submissions on the Equal Opportunity Act, the Religious Discrimination bill 2021 and Gender Recognition in WA.
As stated by Youth Minister Dave Kelly:
“LGBTIQA+ young people still experience prejudice and discrimination in their lives, and face a greater risk of mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide.
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting LGBTIQA+ young people and ensuring they can take their rightful place in their communities, and I am delighted to extend funding of the Youth Pride Network.
“The Youth Pride Network is doing outstanding work in supporting and promoting the needs and ambitions of LGBTIQA+ young people by enabling them to raise their voice.”
