The Bendigo project has been selected through the latest round of the Strong and Resilient Communities (SARC) Inclusive Communities Activity program and is one of forty projects that will benefit up to 6,000 people from communities around the country.

Each project is geared towards supporting a particular group of people facing barriers to community participation, including at-risk young people and women, people with disability, and unemployed people.

Yo Bendigo is a Bendigo-based organisation that supports and empowers young people in the regions through delivering innovative social engagement programs.

The Bendigo project will support young people aged 12-18 in the Bendigo region to build participant confidence, independence, and sense of belonging and connection, as well as seek to reduce levels of unemployment.

This will be achieved through the delivery of social connection events and workshops that will provide practical, hands-on experience, skill-based workshops, mentorship opportunities and accredited training.

Today’s announcement builds on the over $50 million already delivered since 2022 under the Strong and Resilient Communities (SARC) – Inclusive Communities Activity, with people benefitting from 140 projects across the country.

More information about SARC is available on the Department of Social Services website.