The federal government is handing out $1.6 million to community groups to steer vulnerable individuals away from ideologies of hate and violence.
Attorney-General George Brandis said the funds would go to 34 community organisations across Australia.
The government initially planned to provide only $1 million but received so many high-quality submissions that it added an extra $600,000.
Senator Brandis said the grants will enable a greater variety of organisations to work with people through individually-tailored programs.
They include a sports-based leadership scheme for vulnerable young people to re-establish healthy relationships with families and promote positive peer networks, together with a drop-in and retreat advice centre for young people which can also refer them to mental health, education and employment services.
Senator Brandis said extremist groups not only threaten peace and cohesion of Australian society but were actively targeting young people for recruitment.
"The government recognises and values the integral role of local communities in building resilience to violent extremism and creating strong community networks and these grants will enable them to create and deliver practical solutions where it matters most," he said in a statement.
Senator Brandis said the grants were part of the Living Safe Together intervention program, established to identify radicalised and at-risk individuals and provide tailored services to address the root causes of their radicalisation.
He said the government had invested more than $40 million in initiatives to turn vulnerable individuals away from violent extremist ideologies.
"My department will work closely with the successful organisations to finalise funding agreements in the coming weeks," he said.
Share
