The Victorian Government is marking the state’s largest Midsumma Pride March with a multimillion-dollar funding boost for the historic Victorian Pride Centre.
Minister for Equality Martin Foley has announced an extra $10 million in funding for the centre, which is the first of its kind in Australia, providing a space for groups and organisations to share ideas and resources to support their work for the LGBTIQ community.
“The Victorian Pride Centre will be a valuable space for generations of LGBTIQ people and an assurance to all Victorians that in this state – equality is not negotiable,” said Minister Foley. “We’re proud to support all the organisations moving in to the Pride Centre and recognise the important contribution they make to providing a voice to Victoria’s diverse LGBTIQ communities.”
The Victorian Government has stepped in with the additional funding to ensure the Pride Centre’s future is secured, after the Commonwealth failed to match Federal Labor’s commitment of $10 million at the last election. It builds upon a previous investment of $15 million towards the Centre’s construction with the land donated by the City of Port Phillip.
Australia’s only LGBTIQ community radio station Joy 94.9 has recently made history, officially signing a lease to move their headquarters to Australia’s first Pride Centre, alongside other tenants Minus 18, Star Health and Switchboard Victoria.
Mr Foley has also announced Victoria’s foremost LGBTIQ community-controlled health service, Thorne Harbour Health will be delivering primary and allied health services from the Pride Centre in late 2020. Their presence in the Pride Centre, along with other allied health services, will ensure that the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people visiting the Centre will be a priority.
The Centre’s design allows for discreet access to key services located throughout the building, recognising the diverse nature of services available and the people accessing those services. The Government’s investment in the Victorian Pride Centre is a part of our record $82.3 million investment in LGBTIQ Victorians and communities.
“This is brilliant news for the community and our Pride Centre,” said Victorian Pride Centre Chair Jude Munro AO. “It will have a really positive impact on how the centre operates and delivers the Victorian Government’s vision of an inclusive hub for Victoria’s LGBTIQ community.”
For more information about the Victorian Pride Centre, visit: www.pridecentre.org.au for details.
Image: Victorian Pride Centre – courtesy of Grant Amon Architects and Brearley Architects and Urbanists