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HEY Grants
The Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Grants are an annual small grant round for LGBTQIA+ projects and initiatives.
Grants aren’t just provided to LGBTQIA+ based services but are also given to mainstream organisations to support the further breakdown of barriers that exist for LGBTQIA+ young people in all spaces.
HEY grant applications are currently closed.
The grant categories
- Youth led projects for LGBTIQA+ young people with innovative projects they know will support their LGBTIQA+ peers. A youth led application must be proposed and led by people who are under 25! (They can get people older than that to proofread and assist them).
- Social Connectedness projects for services to expand or improve their support for LGBTIQA+ young people, and for targeted projects for LGBTIQA+ young people that will improve their mental health and wellbeing.
The HEY Grants are administered by the HEY Partners.
Who should apply?
Any organisation or project designed to support LGBTQIA+ young people in Victoria is encouraged to apply. Applications from outside of Victoria will not be considered.
HEY actively encourages applications that are led by, and designed for:
- LGBTQIA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
- LGBTQIA+ disabled young people, and LGBTQIA+ neurodiverse young people
- LGBTQIA+ young people of colour, and LGBTQIA+ young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- LGBTQIA+ community members who are underrepresented in services and programs, such as asexual and aromantic young people, or young people with intersex variations
How do I apply?
Before submitting your application on SmartyGrants, we advise you to prepare some of your responses beforehand so that you can make your application process as smooth as possible.
There are some key questions that you will be asked to respond to as part of your application. Here are some templates you should use as a way to prepare and refine your responses before adding them to your full application on SmartyGrants once submissions open:
Youth Led projects
Social Connectedness projects
Please note, you will need to copy and paste the information you write in these documents onto SmartyGrants for your application to count.
How to use SmartyGrants
- Once submissions open, click the link from this webpage which will take you to SmartyGrants.
- Here you'll be presented with a page where you can either preview your application or start a submission.
- If you start a submission, you'll be presented with a log on screen where you can register.
You can save progress on your application at any time on SmartyGrants. If your application is approved, this is also where you'll be asked to file progress reports once your project has been funded.
Previous grant recipients
Round 13 of the HEY Grants provided $102,000 to 12 projects and organisations across the state. The grants were selected by a panel of LGBTIQA+ community members, and prioritised new applicants who will address intersections and gaps in LGBTIQA+ services.
Round 14
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Mount Alexander Shire Council
The ‘Over the Rainbow’ Project - $10,000
The ‘Over the Rainbow’ project will provide opportunities for regional young LGBTIQA+ people to connect with the wider queer community through a series of youth-led events and excursions. These events will provide much needed safe spaces for young people to form supportive relationships and celebrate their diverse identities.
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Sufi Festival Inc.
‘Songs of Belonging: Celebrating LGBTQ Diversity with Music’ - $5,000
Sufi Festival, a non-profit organisation, aims to spread peace, love, and harmony by bridging cultures in Australia. They take pride in organising festivals, musical events, cultural activities, and workshops for the elderly, young adults, and LGBTQ members, fostering inclusivity, support, and unity within the community.
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Whittlesea Community Connections
‘(CALD) Rainbow Group’ - $10,000
(CALD) Rainbow Group is a peer support group for young people from diverse cultural backgrounds who identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. The group will facilitate educational, informative and engaging activities to support better mental health and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ young people and their allies in their community.
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ACMI
‘ACMI: Young LGBTIQA+ film-makers workshop’ - $5,000
A three-day film workshop designed to provide LGBTIQA+ individuals aged 15-19 with the skills and confidence to tell their own stories in a safe and inclusive environment. ACMI Educators and young collaborators from the community will co-design the workshop using ACMI's spaces and state-of-the-art equipment.
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City of Darebin
‘The Surround Project’ - $10,000
‘Surround’ aims to boost and scaffold social connection and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ young people in Darebin. Involving a “SafeTALKs” mental health training for LGBTIQA+ young people, allies and youth workers, followed by a wellbeing focussed “school formal” event, planned in collaboration with local LGBTIQA+ young people, schools and organisations.
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Yarra Ranges Queer Youth Writers Collective - $10,000
Yarra Ranges Queer Youth Writers Collective is a youth-led, free, in-person, regular gathering of young Queer writers (16-25) giving each other peer-feedback, a safe space to create and share, connection to the local queer creative community, sharing ideas and learning, with young people at the heart of co-designed projects and facilitation.
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The ‘So Let’s Affirm You (SLAY)’ Project - $10,000
The So Let's Affirm You (SLAY) Project is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the mental health and decreasing isolation of trans and gender diverse young people through gender affirmation and social connection. The SLAY Project does this by providing gender affirming kits filled with resources and gender affirming materials, and provides information on inclusive services.
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‘We Eatin’ Good’ - $10,000
We Eatin’ Good (WEG) will premiere their ‘Food As Resistance’ documentary in metro Melbourne and regional Victoria. WEG will host two catered events with panel discussions. The screenings will showcase their most recent creative work to foster community relationships and engagement through the sharing of food and art, whilst amplifying QTBIPOC creatives.
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‘Anti-gender hate: What are you doing about it?’ - $9,000
This project aims to support trans/gender diverse young people who have been disproportionately targeted by online discourse and hate of all kinds, supporting them with the skills and resources they need to engage safely online. The project involves co-designing materials with trans and gender diverse young people.
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‘Now I See Colour: A Pride Music Video’ - $5,000
'Now I See Colour’ is a Pride music video, providing opportunities for regional LGBTIQA+ young people to be involved in the production crew and star in the film, which will take place in a regional community. This video of celebration will empower regional LGBTIQA+ people and beyond to be boldly themselves in the face of homophobia.
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headspace Elsternwick
‘Queer Voices Roadshow - Life After School’ - $3,853
Headspace Elsternwick’s Youth Advisory Committee will host lunchtime sessions in schools for LGBTQIA+ students and allies. Led by older LGBTQIA+ mentors, these sessions provide a safe space to discuss life after school, including education, work, and social connections. The aim is to offer support, build community, and address transition challenges.
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City of Casey
‘Pride in Casey Schools’ - $5,000
The City of Casey will deliver a professional development forum for teachers working within Casey schools to assist in building their capacity to support LGBTQI+ young people. The forum will be youth-led, and address how to create safe, supportive school environments, with information about inclusive resources and support.
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YMCA Ballarat
‘How Queer Looks: Generational Connection’ - $10,000
Supported by YMCA Ballarat, this youth-led project is a student storytelling documentary that connects rural LGBTQIA+ community by journeying through Victoria and hearing stories from LGBTIQA+ people. The project aims to help bridge a generational divide by showing and facilitating an environment between elderly queer people and young people, led by young people, exploring different ways ‘queer’ can look.