The Victorian Government's 2026-27 Budget allocates a record $32 billion to health, including $3.9 billion in new investment, with the overwhelming share directed to hospitals, emergency departments, and specialist care.
While there are welcome investments, such as $10m for women's preventive sexual health support, these remain relatively small in scale when viewed against overall health expenditure, the Public Health Association of Australia's VIC Branch said.
"Health is shaped by the social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions in which people live," PHAA VIC Branch President, Mariam Hachem, said.
"The Victorian Government's ongoing investment in health services and efforts to improve access to care does not go unnoticed.
"However, consistent with last year's budget, this year's continues to prioritise downstream and crisis responses over early intervention and preventive measures that are more effective, equitable, and cost efficient in the long term.
"Without sustained, scaled, and protected investment in preventive health at its core, Victoria risks perpetuating a system that reacts to illness late which incurs added costs, rather than reducing demand, improving equity, and ensuring long-term system sustainability."
The PHAA VIC Branch has today unveiled its priorities for all parties contesting the November election. It encourages all candidates to consider actions which will stop people in Victoria from getting sick:
1. Increase prevention funding to 5% of the state's overall health budget
2. Establish and fund a Victorian-specific Public Health Officer Training Program
3. Guarantee five years' funding to maintain and consolidate the role of Local Public Health Units
4. Maintain the independence and full funding of VicHealth
"Taking prevention seriously eases the pressures on our hospitals and ambulance services, and means Victorians can live longer and healthier, and have a better quality of life," Ms Hachem said.
