Lakes Entrance will receive $810,000 over the next four years to identify and implement solutions to social problems facing the local community, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull said today.

Lakes Entrance is one of nine small towns to share the Victorian Coalition Government’s $9.4 million ‘Advancing Country Towns’ investment which provides funding to pilot innovative grassroots programs that will tackle social disadvantage,” Mr Bull said.

The Coalition Government’s Advancing Country Towns program addresses a range of challenges facing country towns including changing population patterns, ageing populations, migration of young people to larger regional centres and cities and climate change.

All nine communities have identified specific local issues inhibiting their community such as early childhood development, education and economic participation, including business development and industry support.

“Identified issues which impact the Lakes Entrance community were below average Year 12 completion rates and the need to minimise the number of disconnected young people through mentoring and buddy programs, with Year 9 students a particular target,” Mr Bull said.

“The program will also address the disproportionate level of disadvantaged amongst the local indigenous population and support initiatives such as better cultural inclusion in schools and services and to work with local businesses to identify skills gaps and link indigenous people with training and employment opportunities.

“Many small country towns across Victoria were experiencing changes to their population and economy and adaptation issues faced by industries vulnerable to environment and economic change,” Mr Bull said.

Victoria’s ‘Advancing Country Towns’ program will sit alongside the Coalition Government’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund to deliver quality of life, new opportunities and increased prosperity across regional Victoria.