Local Grants Program - 2008 Round 2

Life Education Ballarat and District Inc, Ballarat

Life Education Ballarat is a not-for-profit community funded organisation that empowers children and young people to make positive life choices and avoid the harmful effects of drugs  The organisation has received a Local Grant for its ‘Secondary School Engagement in 2009’ program. This program will deliver the ‘Face the Facts Life Education’ program to secondary schools in the Grampians region. This package aims to reinforce positive health messages and discourage drug use, ultimately creating behavioral change in local young people.

Melton Specialist School, Melton

Melton Specialist School provides quality education programs for students with a range of intellectual and physical disabilities. The School has received a grant for its ‘Bicycles to Enhance Inclusion and Accessibility for Students with Disabilities’ program. The program will deliver custom made tricycles to special needs students from 4 to 18 years of age, helping them take advantage of the considerable health and development benefits that come from cycling.

Riding for the Disabled, Germania

Riding for the Disabled encourages the social interaction and friendship of people with disability through specialist horse riding programs run by volunteers within the community. The organisation has received a Local Grant for its ‘Operation Survival’ program that aims to broaden and extend the horse riding services currently offered. This initiative will ensure the short term survival of Stawell Centre, allowing old equipment to be replaced and providing a modern and safe environment for the disabled.

MacKillop Family Services (MFS), South Melbourne

MFS provides specialist support services to over 3,500 vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families. The organisation has been awarded a grant for its ‘Equipment Fund for MacKillops Bayview Disability Services in Geelong’ program. This initiative will establish a disability equipment bank that will allow items to be lent at an affordable rent to families who children needing specialised equipment.

The Mirabel Foundation Inc, St Kilda South

The Mirabel Foundation assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use. The Foundation has received a Local Grant for its ‘Mirabel Education Transition Program for High-Risk Youth’. This program supports children who have been orphaned due to parental drug use as they move up  from primary school to high school. The cheme provides the children with sufficient books and resources to begin secondary school without being held back by their current situation.

SIDS and Kids, Hawthorn

SIDS and Kids has been awarded a grant for ‘SIDS and Kids Bereavement Literature Booklets’. This initiative will provide bereavement support to families who have experienced the death of a child through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.. The bereavement booklets will be provided free of charge and used in conjunction with support groups and professional counselling sessions.

Mt Alexander and Central Goldfields Early Childhood Intervention Program (MaCECIP), Castlemaine

MaCECIP aims to educate families and the community in assisting special needs children reach their full potential. The organisation has been awarded a Local Grant to provide further resources for children with special needs and their parents, through its assistive language programs. These programs will assist children's language to develop more fully prior to school entry, increasing the child's language skills through learning from everyday experiences.

Wales Street Primary School, Thornbury

Wales Street Primary School in Thornbury has been awarded a grant to fund new goal post and basketball post protectors. The cushioned post protectors aim to prevent further injury for young students during sporting activities, encouraging children to reach their full potential in sport without having to worry about hurting themselves.

Riding for the Disabled – South Melbourne

Riding for the Disabled encourages the social interaction and friendship of people with disability, through specialist horse riding programs run by volunteers within the community. The organisation has received a Local Grant to purchase new safety riding helmets, boots and saddles for the children involved in the horse riding program.