The Andrews Labor Government is creating jobs and caring for the people of Dandenong.

 

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 will support an average of 38,000 jobs every year over the next four years, while also investing in the care and services our community needs.

 

Dandenong North Primary School is one of 52 Victorian schools that will be upgraded in this year’s Budget. This $6 million investment will deliver works to construct a new competition grade gymnasium and modernise Block E. Not only will this give our students new classrooms and learning spaces, it’ll create good jobs for Victorians. Across the state, our investment in more and better schools is expected to support 3,500 jobs.

 

The Andrews Labor Government is also rolling out three-year-old kinder across the Dandenong electorate from next year. That means every child in Dandenong will have access to at least five hours of funded kinder per week, increasing to 15 hours by 2029. It’s not just great news for kids – families will save $1150 on average, while an extra 6,000 roles for qualified early childhood teachers and educators will also be created.

 

Victim-survivors of family violence will receive improved support, with the expansion of our network of specialist family violence courts, to include Dandenong. These courts are specially designed to make attending court a less daunting experience for victim-survivors, including separate entrances and exits, safe waiting areas and dedicated space for children.

 

With this Budget, the Labor Government will also help more Victorian families experience the joys of parenthood, helping to cover the costs of in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF). IVF can help people who want to become parents achieve their dreams. But for many Victorians, it’s unaffordable and out of reach. This Budget delivers $70 million to establish public IVF services – which will be free for up to 4,000 people every year.

 

This Budget also includes a once in a generation investment to build our mental health system from the ground up, $3.8 billion will transform the way mental health support is offered in Victoria, with early intervention, a dedicated stream of care for our kids, and the recruitment of thousands of new workers.

 

Young Victorians are at the heart of our reform, with $842 million in mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people. This investment will see two separate streams of care created – one devoted to infants and children and one devoted to young people. This investment will deliver more early intervention, more intensive support for those who need acute care, and more help for families.

 

To help support young local people in need, this Budget includes upgrades to Dandenong’s Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) unit, as part of a $141 million investment. YPARCs deliver care for people who need support transitioning out of acute care, or to avoid hospitalization, and delivers support specifically tailored to the needs of our young people.

 

Recognising the key role of schools in supporting the wellbeing of our students, this Budget also invests in a new School Mental Health Fund. This investment will allow schools to choose and implement mental health and wellbeing programs that best meet the needs of their students. The Mental Health in Primary Schools pilot will also be expanded to include 90 government schools and 10 non-government schools.

 

An investment of $954 million will deliver 22 reformed area mental health and wellbeing services to replace current services. These services will have more capacity to treat and support Victorians experiencing severe and complex mental health challenges, in their own communities.

 

Not only are we delivering the mental health system Victoria needs – we’re also supporting around 3,000 new jobs. From doctors to nurses, support staff to peer workers, this investment is creating new opportunities for thousands of Victorians. To train and recruit this critical workforce we’re also funding new scholarships, job placements and continuing our Free TAFE courses.

 

With this Budget, we’re creating new jobs and caring for Victorians.

 

Quotes attributable to Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams     

“Every child deserves a great classroom. I’m proud that this Budget will deliver the upgrade the school community at Dandenong North Primary School has been calling for.” 

“This Budget invests in our schools, hospitals and our mental health system, while creating jobs for Victorians.”