The Andrews Labor Government is creating jobs and caring for the people in Southern Metropolitan region.
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, services and infrastructure our community needs.
Glen Eira College is one of 52 Victorian schools that will be upgraded in this year's Budget. This $6.58 million investment will upgrade and modernise the school, including more facilities for an additional 250 students to meet growing demand. Not only will this give our kids great 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 Labor Government will help preserve and protect our important ecosystems, contributing $2.8 million to the design and build of a new facility for the Port Phillip EcoCentre in St Kilda. The EcoCentre is a community managed organisation with a dedicated team of scientists, educators and volunteers who design and implement innovative environmental programs.
This Budget invests $242 million in the next step towards 'turn up and go' services in our city's south. Funding will upgrade the tracks near Caulfield Station, separating the Cranbourne‑Pakenham and Frankston lines, enabling more trains and more frequent services.
These improvements will untangle the lines, preparing this crucial section of the network for the opening of the Metro Tunnel. New signalling equipment will also make the junction safer and deliver a more reliable service for local passengers.
This includes $2 million to undertake planning to improve interchange connections at Caulfield Station, making it easier for commuters to make their train. Not only will this investment deliver a safer, more reliable trip for local passengers, it will support around 600 jobs at the peak of construction.
We’re also strengthening Glenferrie Road bridge over the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Gippsland line rail services and Orrong/Malvern Road bridge to increase the lifespan of this critical piece of infrastructure and provide more reliable tram services in the south-east.
With this Budget, the Labor Government will help more 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 jobs and caring for Victorians.
As stated by Member for Southern Metropolitan Region Enver Erdogan
“The mental health investment in this Budget will profoundly support some of the most vulnerable in our community who have been let-down for too long.”
“Even more, it will support the creation of thousands of new jobs – giving more Victorians the security and certainty of employment.”
