The funding, obtained through the VicHealth Partners in Place program, will support the project for two years, with the possibility to extend for a further three years.
If the extension is successful, the potential total investment would be $500,000.
Alcohol-related harm continues to have a significant impact on local families and young people, with current indicators showing that 16 per cent of Mitchell Shire residents are at risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.
One in four family violence incidents occurring across the municipality also involve alcohol.
These figures make a compelling case for stronger, evidence-based approaches to alcohol regulation and community health.
Council’s project will bring together leading researchers, public health experts and local government partners to better understand how alcohol availability, licensing decisions and planning processes shape community outcomes.
Council will work alongside the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University, the Australian Urban Observatory at RMIT, Omnia Community Health, the Goulburn Valley Public Health Unit and the National Growth Areas Alliance.
Partner councils Hume City Council and Hobsons Bay City Council will also be involved.
The partnership has attracted more than $847,000 in in-kind contributions over five years — an indicator of a shared commitment to reducing alcohol harm across Victoria.
A central feature of the project is the creation of a youth advocacy group, launching in 2027.
This group will give young people aged 15 to 25 a direct role in shaping how councils assess liquor licence applications and plan for healthier local environments.
Participants will gain a firsthand understanding of how local government shapes alcohol availability, share their own experiences, and help design practical tools that put youth perspectives at the centre of future decision-making.
Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said the project represented a major step forward in addressing alcohol-related harm.
“Alcohol continues to have a real impact on families and young people in Mitchell Shire,” Cr Dougall said.
“This funding allows us to take a proactive, evidence-based approach and importantly, it ensures young people have a genuine voice in shaping the future of their communities.”
The project will also help Mitchell Shire prepare for future growth.
While Mitchell Shire does not yet face the volume of liquor licence applications seen in more established urban areas, development pressures are on the rise.
Partnering with Hume City Council and Hobsons Bay City Council, which each manage a broader range of liquor license types, will allow the project to test new approaches and ensure the tools developed are relevant across diverse settings.
Over the coming years, the project aims to build a stronger evidence base for councils, embed fairer and more health-focused licensing practices, and advocate for policy reform that genuinely reflects young people’s experiences.
Council will release further information about the Youth Advocacy Group, and the expression of interest process will be released in 2027.
For more information on VicHealth’s work to support better health outcomes in local communities, visit vichealth.vic.gov.au/partners-in-place
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