In 2021 launched Scaling What Works, an AUD $10.38 million mental health funding program that aims to supercharge mental health initiatives that have shown real promise in improving mental health and wellbeing for young boys and men, across community or workplace settings.
With a focus on prevention and early intervention, each of the successful recipients receives between AUD $250,000 and $500,000 of funding over the next two years, allowing them to scale their reach and impact, in an effort to fast-track mental health outcomes in local communities.
One of the successful global recipients of Movember’s global Scaling What Works Program is Victoria University’s collaboration with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation (WBCF) program, which aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of men in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities with interactive presentations, physical activities, and events.
The free, ten-week health program supports mental health and wellbeing outcomes for men aged 18 years and over, with face-to-face literacy programs that build knowledge about a range of topics including nutrition, gender equity, masculinity and mental health.
Since 2016, Victoria University has been an active partner of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, working collaboratively to:
- support programs through student placements and projects
- gather research and conduct evaluation
- facilitate advocacy for diverse communities of the west.
Movember’s support will see Victoria University and WBCF build on the successful pilot program run in 2021/22 as part the VU RISE .
Tin Nguyen, a graduate from the 2022 pilot program said “Sons of the West gave me a chance to gain more knowledge about healthy living as well as sharing what I know to other people. For me, the most meaningful thing that Sons of the West brought is the inspiration of challenging myself to become better every day.”
