Due to overwhelming interest, the Andrews Labor Government has doubled its investment in an innovative, focused gender equality grants program to support dozens of local organisations across Victoria.

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins has congratulated 44 community organisations which will receive grants of up to $10,000 as part of the Investing in Women’s Grassroots Grant Program.

Grant recipients include projects that support women and gender diverse people from First Nations, multicultural and LGBTIQ+ communities and those at risk of homelessness.

Gender stereotypes, discrimination and unequal pay are some of the major barriers facing women, girls and gender diverse people.

The grants program aims to build the capacity of grassroots organisations to dismantle some of these drivers of gender inequality through community engagement events, leadership, training programs and advocacy projects including:

• Preston based Juno has received a $10,000 grant for Powering Future Choices, a project providing information and support to older women and non-binary individuals at risk of family violence, homelessness or financial crisis.
• Sisterworks has received $10,000 for a mobile hub in Wodonga offering advanced sewing classes and small business training to enhance economic self-sufficiency.

The Labor Government first announced $200,000 towards the program in early May, however due to overwhelming interest, this investment has been doubled to $400,000.