CREATING JOBS AND CARING FOR FOOTSCRAY

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

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.

Footscray City Primary is one of 52 Victorian schools that will be upgraded in this year’s Budget. This $13.43 million investment will upgrade and modernise Block C, as part of the Footscray Education Plan. 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.

Trees make our streets more attractive, provide shade and decrease pollution. As part of this year’s Budget, suburbs in Melbourne’s west – including in Footscray – will see thousands of new trees planted, further beautifying our community.

The Budget also provides $1.79 million in funding to support Melbourne’s inner‐west communities, with a focus on early diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma to achieve better long‐term health outcomes.

$94 million will be invested in the Melton and Wyndham Vale corridor to enable higher capacity trains, including nine-car VLocity trains. These longer trains will increase capacity by up to 50 per cent during peak periods. Development work will also be undertaken for a new commuter train as a future replacement for the existing classic fleet operating on regional lines.

Victim-survivors of family violence will receive improved support, with the expansion of our network of specialist family violence courts, to include Sunshine. 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 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.

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 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 new jobs and caring for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP

“Our Government always puts caring for communities like Footscray at the heart of everything it does.  This Budget will create jobs and care for people in Melbourne’s west.”

“As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand the difference a great school can make. Our investments in education will make sure that no matter where they live, every child can be their best.”

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For media enquiries, please email Hannah Brown at hannah.brown@parliament.vic.gov.au, or call 9689 4283.