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

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. 

Forest Street Primary School is one of 52 Victorian schools that will be upgraded in this year’s Budget. This $5.57 million investment will upgrade and modernise the school, including Block A. Not only will this give our students 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.  

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. 

Our local sporting clubs are so important to our community. The Budget is backing their future, delivering better pavilions, changerooms, grounds and courts so all Victorians can get active. Locally, the Budget includes up to $700,000 towards the delivery of a new netball facility in Alfredton and up to $72,000 for a new outdoor community gym at Doug Dean Reserve in Delacombe.  

The Labor Government is continuing to improve our rail network with new trains and upgrades to stations. A new fleet of 25 X’Trapolis 2.0 trains will be built in Ballarat,  with at least 150 new jobs to be based at Alstom’s Ballarat facility.  

We’re also building the roads we need now, and future proofing our road network. The Budget kicks off planning for an upgrade at the Western Freeway and Learmonth Road Interchange to accommodate heavy vehicles and improve safety.  

The Lydiard Street Level Crossing will also be upgraded and reopened, relinking both sections of Lydiard Street. The upgrade will improve access to the station and businesses in the area, thanks to a $10.5 million investment. 

To help ensure more Victorians have access to the internet, this Budget will extend free public Wi-Fi in the Ballarat central business district. Not only is this convenient for locals, it’ll ensure Victorians without internet connections aren’t left behind as more of our lives go online. 

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.  

This Budget will deliver a new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) unit for the Grampians Region, as part of a $141 million investment. This investment will deliver mental health care for Victorians transitioning out of hospital, or to avoid hospital admission, with support tailored to the needs of our young people. 

Ensuring that care is available to every Victorian, this Budget also provides dedicated support for our regional communities. This includes $11 million to deliver a Rural and Regional Workforce Incentive Scheme, attracting, training and supporting more mental health workers in our community. A further $2.3 million will trial two new digital services, enabling rural and regional Victorians to access care from their own homes. 

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 Wendouree Juliana Addison

“I’m proud that this is another Budget that delivers for families across Ballarat – with investments in Forest Street Primary, Alfredton Recreation Reserve and the upgrade and reopening of the Lydiard Street level crossing.”

“From upgrades to our schools, to trains built at Alstom, to new mental health support, this is a Budget that continues to create jobs and care for locals in Ballarat.”