Funding available for International Men's Day events

Published on 05 October 2023

Community groups looking to host events as part of International Men’s Day, occurring on Sunday, 19 November, are encouraged to contact Gannawarra Shire Council for assistance.

The Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee is offering financial support for events and activities across the Gannawarra planned for either on or around International Men’s Day, as part of the ongoing recovery from the 2022 floods.

Supported nationally by the Australian Men’s Health Forum, International Men’s Day aims to create a safe environment to support positive conversations around men, manhood, masculinity, positive role modelling and men’s health issues.

“Council is pleased to be supporting International Men’s Day for the first time in 2023 and is working with Northern District Community Health and the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee to bring community-led ideas to life,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“The theme for this year’s International Men’s Day is Healthy Men, Healthy World, focusing on the issue of men’s and boys’ health with sub-themes relating to checking in on your mates, improving male health together, identifying healthy male role models and taking action to stay healthy.”

Financial support is available to support community groups and organisations that work directly with men thanks to funding received from the Australian and Victorian governments as part of the Gannawarra Flood Recovery program.

“Whether you are one of the six men’s sheds operating across the Gannawarra, a community-based organisation that would like to run an event to support men to connect, or a health provider who wants to offer a service to support men’s health, we would welcome your ideas,” Mr Rollinson said.

“Events focused around International Men’s Day, such as a men’s breakfast, a health check day, a barbecue or a day trip to connect with men in another community, will be prioritised for funding but longer term initiatives that support men to connect will also be considered.

“We want to see events spread across the whole of Gannawarra to promote and celebrate the positive role men play across our communities and Council is pleased to offer support to help groups develop an event or program of events that meets the needs of individual communities.”

This funding opportunity is supported by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as part of the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Program.

To express an interest in this funding opportunity, call Council on (03) 5450 9333 or email [email protected]. Expressions of interest close at 5pm on Thursday, 19 October 2023.

For more information on International Men’s Day, visit www.amhf.org.au