The Victorian Government has announced a spate of funding for LGBTI initiatives, including $145,000 for a project to help better support survivors of conversion therapy. The funding – which amounts to $325,000 in total – was announced by Minister for Equality Martin Foley on Wednesday.

Foley said part of the money would fund a project undertaken by the government alongside conversion therapy survivors, as a way to identify the best approaches for peer support.

“We’re ending the evil practice of gay conversion therapy,” he said. “And we’re going to work with those who know the harm it causes best to ensure we support victims of this bigoted quackery. Victoria leads the nation when it comes to equality, and we want to give our LGBTI community the chance to celebrate their diversity.”

At this year’s Melbourne Pride March, Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state government would criminalise LGBTI conversion practices, which, if legislated, would make Victoria the first state in Australia to do so.