Analysis: 2026-27 Victorian Budget

Significant Announcements:

*See Youth Justice section for funding for youth sector prevention and early intervention programs

• $36.8 million over five years starting 2025-26 to support community service organisations that deliver social services.
• $5 million in 2026-27 for Service Victoria to deliver new products and services, so people can transact with government and access support.
• $5.4 million in 2026-27 to minimise insecure work in the local government sector, including implementing a Local Government Fair Jobs Code and creating a new regulatory body to monitor compliance.

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

Much is still unknown in this budget about the level to which youth programs have been refunded, but it’s clear there are no major new investments in the youth sector or youth sector workforce.

The majority of youth-targeted funding is directed at programs for young people at risk of criminal offending, including funding through the Violence Reduction Unit. YACVic strongly welcomes this investment in crime prevention programs while noting there must also be a focus on scaling investment in generalist youth services and youth workers in community and schools. These services play a critical role in supporting young people early – well before they come into contact with the criminal legal system.

The Youth Work Matters Social Return On Investment Study undertaken by Deloitte found that every $1 invested in young people via youth work programs directly returns at least $2.62 in benefits through improved economic, social and health outcomes for young people, along with reduced need for costly crisis interventions and acute care.

The youth and community sector continues to face chronic underfunding and undervalue where short 1-2 year contracts have become the norm. This over reliance on short-term contracts limits stability and undermines organisations ability to deliver sustainable, high quality supports to young people.

We are also disappointed to see no investment in youth hubs. Young people are increasingly feeling a lack of inclusive and safe places to socialise outside of school – an issue that is even more pressing following Australia’s under 16 social media ban. Safe and inclusive Places to socialise outside the home, work and school where people interact and form community connections, fostering belonging, identity and culture.third spaces are essential for young people to feel connected, included, and secure in their communities.

Through the Victorian Youth Strategy, the government made a commitment to implement meaningful and sustained actions to improve outcomes for young people and the youth sector. With the strategy set to expire next year, YACVic and our members stand ready to work with the Victorian government to deliver evidence-based reforms and long-term investment in young people.

Read more from the community sector:

• Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)
• Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)

Significant Announcements:

Transport costs:

• $432.5 million over two years starting 2025-26 for free and half price public transport. This includes making all public transport free from 31 March to 31 May 2026, then half price from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2027.
• $759 million over two years starting 2025-26 to support car registration costs. This provides a 20% A partial refund of a payment that is returned after purchase.rebate on up to two A car, van or SUV designed for transporting people rather than for large-scale commercial purposes.light vehicle registrations per person paid between July 2025 and June 2026 – equating to $186 for one car and $372 for two.
• $109.3 million in 2025-26 for fuel A type of tax imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia.excise relief, supporting Victoria’s contribution to the Commonwealth, including a temporary 32 cent per litre reduction in excise on petrol and diesel from 1 April 2026 to 30 June 2026.
• $5 million over two years starting 2025-26 for the ‘servo saver’ feature on the Service Victoria App. This funding supports people to compare fuel prices across petrol stations and supports a A taskforce that’s part of the Fair Fuel plan that ensures fuel retailers are reporting their fuel prices correctly.Fair Fuel Taskforce to enforce and ensure the effective operation of Fair Fuel laws.

Energy costs:

• $1.1 million in 2026-27 to extend the Energy Assistance Program, a one-on-one service that supports people with a concession card to maximise their energy bill savings.

School costs:

• $28 million for the Affordable School Uniforms program which provides free uniforms and other essential school items to students experiencing financial hardship.
• $14 million for School Breakfast Clubs which deliver free breakfasts, lunches, snacks and take-home food packs to students in need.
• Additional funding is also provided to State Schools’ Relief to assist their work with disadvantaged Victorian students and their families.

Other assistance:

• $8.5 million is provided in 2026-27 for the Community Food Security program. Foodbank Victoria and regional Organisations that play a role in food security by collecting and distributing food within their communities.foodshares to support local food relief initiatives. Funding is also provided to meet food security system and The systems and facilities that support the functioning of something (e.g. hard infrastructure like roads or soft infrastructure like educational programs).infrastructure gaps to improve access to food relief.
• $2.4 million over two years starting 2026-27 to expand Approaches or strategies that focus on the unique characteristics and needs of a specific area.place-basedcommunity information and support services, providing legal, financial and personal advice services for Victorians experiencing personal and financial hardship.
• $2.7 million in 2026-27 to expand financial counselling services, to address geographical expansion of service delivery.

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

YACVic welcomes the considerable investment in temporary relief on transport costs, including free and half price public transport, costs for car registrations, and fuel excise relief. These measures will go some way to support young people with transport costs so they can get to where they need to go. We will continue to advocate to extend the youth myki to make public transport free for all under 25’s, but particularly for those with a concession card or living in rural and regional areas.

Victorians have been living with rising costs for groceries, utilities, rents, and living expenses since COVID. But young people, often in insecure, low-paid work with limited saving or An owned possession that has financial value, such as stocks or houses.assets, are particularly A person who is high risk of harm and exploitation often due to factors like age, disability or low income.vulnerable to rising cost of living and financial pressures.

We are pleased to see some measures to support school students and families, and it’s also great to see food security and financial counselling measures – though this is nowhere near enough to meet rising demand. It’s disappointing to see no targeted measures to support young people’s When someone has sufficient resources to cover their expenses, handle emergencies, and feel confident about their future.financial security and wellbeing, when we know young people are doing it particularly tough. This budget does little to curb rising rents, food prices, or utility expenses which young people tell us are some of their biggest sources of financial stress.

Alongside one-off, temporary funding measures to support cost of living, the government must focus on measures to address the structural drivers of high costs of essentials. Given an uncertain global economic outlook and rising inequality, the need for action has never been more pressing.

Read more:

• Read VCOSS State Budget Submission cost of living recommendations

Significant Announcements:

Prevention and early intervention programs:

• $9.4 million over three years starting in 2026-27 for Blue Light Crime Prevention and Early An action made to intend to change a situation, often to prevent a problem.Intervention initiatives. This funding is intended to provide support to at-risk young people through tailored programs delivered by Blue Light Victoria (that partners with Victoria Police), including one-on-one mentoring and early intervention programs in schools and community settings.
• $9 million over four years starting 2026-27 for programs to support students’ continued engagement with the education system and to reduce potential contact with the justice system, including by:

a) continuing the Early Years Program.

b) supporting Foundation House to deliver professional development programs to early years educators and school teachers.

c) supporting the Learning Beyond the Bell homework clubs.

• $23.4 million over four years starting 2026-27 for culturally appropriate early intervention and re-engagement supports for young people at risk of suspension, expulsion and contact with the criminal legal system, including targeted programs and caseworker support for culturally and linguistically diverse students, particularly at-risk African and Pasifika young people.
• $33.4 million over four years starting 2026-27 for the Violence Reduction Unit to support local crime prevention solutions. This funding includes: 

a) delivering Project Restore in Victoria, a community-based gang violence intervention program

b) supporting the Victoria Police Community Connection Project

c) providing targeted mental health supports for at-risk young people focusing on reducing issues across waitlists, referrals and parent/community engagement

d) delivering activities and sport for at-risk school-aged young people to support their re-engagement with school, with an emphasis on priority schools with significant proportions of students at risk.

• $8.1 million over four years starting 2026-27 for programs to support young people who are at risk of offending and involvement with the criminal legal system. This includes:

a) continuing the Youth Crime Prevention Program which provides intensive case management, mentoring and activity-based programs.

b) expanding Westjustice's highly successful Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Program, which aims to reduce rates of re-offending among young people by providing increased early intervention measures including early referrals to legal and social supports.

• $5.5m over two years starting 2026-27 to begin implementing key recommendations of the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group, focusing on addressing the over-representation of South Sudanese Australian young people in the criminal justice system. This includes:

a) continuation of targeted local community programs to support South Sudanese Australian young people.

b) service design, community engagement and planning for the establishment of a South Sudanese Community Hub to coordinate culturally safe supports.

Prisons and police:

• $304.9 million over five years starting 2025-26 for custodial measures and court resources. The budget papers outline that this funding is a direct response to the ‘Adult Time for Violent Crime’ reforms which have significantly increased the likelihood of a child being sent to prison and length of sentences. As a result, increased funding is being provided to increase capacity in youth and adult prisons and establish a specialised County Court youth list to fast-track serious matters to be heard in the County Court.
• $48.7 million over five years starting 2025-26 provided to Victoria Police to recruit an additional 50 Armed and uniformed officers who have the power to apprehend, arrest, search and fine people in designated places, such as railway stations. They also have some powers at other places, like police stations.Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and to continue Operation Pulse at shopping centres to the end of 2026.
• $1.3 million over four years starting 2026-27 provided to Victoria Police to maintain police custody cells and to support increased custodial medical capacity as a result of an increased number of people being held in prisons and police custody cells due to the Victorian government’s bail reform.
• $14 million over four years starting 2026-27 to equip specialist police with 3 000 mobile devices and upgrade Victoria Police evidence-recording equipment.
• $15 million over four years starting 2026-27 to refresh Victoria Police’s information technology infrastructure.
• $36.6 million over four years starting 2026-27 for Victoria Police protective equipment and technology including a forensic laboratory information management system, intelligence software, digital fingerprint and facial recognition technology and connection to the National Criminal Intelligence System.
• $42.1 million over four years starting 2026-27 to support the operation of Victoria’s prisons and for programs to support reintegration into the community for people leaving prison including:

a) the Maribyrnong Community Residential facility, which provides accommodation and support services for men leaving prison

b) rehabilitation and reintegration support services for people on remand, people on short sentences and disabled people in prison

c) specialist practitioners to provide advice to courts on a person’s suitability to be sentenced to community corrections orders

d) programs to support families of prisoners and people leaving prison

e) mentoring programs for women in contact with the justice system.

• $8.5 million over two years starting 2026-27 to support the operation of the youth justice system, including through:

a) programs that support early intervention, diversion and prevention of offending such as lived experience mentoring, which connects young people from overrepresented backgrounds with pro-social mentors with lived experience of the justice system.

b) funding for Victorian Legal Aid to represent young people in contact with the justice system.

c) funding to upgrade Victoria Police’s information and technology systems for requirements under the Youth Justice Act 2024.

Legal support and community service provision:

• $10.2 million over three years starting 2026-27 to continue legal services and improve access to justice including:

a) the Help Before Court program that supports people to resolve their matter at their first hearing

b) the Independent Family Advocacy and Support program that works with parents and primary carers in the early (pre-court) phase of child protection involvement

c) specialist legal services for LGBTIQA+ Victorians

• $10.5 million over two years starting 2026-27 for the Office of Public Prosecutions and Victorian Legal Aid to meet increased demand arising from the Government’s bail and sentencing reforms.
• $32.2 million over five years starting 2025-26 to support community service organisations that deliver social services on behalf of the Government.
• $7.6 million over four years starting 2026-27 to establish a dedicated Koori Hearing List at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to deliver culturally appropriate and timely case management for matters involving First Nations accused, including applications for bail.
• $8.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 for maintaining investment in Aboriginal community-based justice solutions. Funding is provided for:

a) continuing a pilot that transitions the Aboriginal Justice Community Panels volunteer workforce into paid positions across three regional sites – Shepparton, Mildura and Bendigo.

b) continuing the Ngarra Jarranounith Place Residential Diversion Program, a residential healing and behaviour change program for Aboriginal men who use, or are at risk of using, family violence.

Victims of crime support:

• $8.8 million over two years starting 2026-27 to deliver the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme, which replaced the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.
• $2.6 million over two years starting 2026-27 for Victims of Crime Commissioner to support continued advocacy of victims’ experiences in the justice system.
• $6.4 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue the Victims’ Legal Service, a dedicated statewide specialist legal service for victims of crime.

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission:

• $2 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for oversight of new police powers to support the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in carrying out its legislative responsibility to oversee Victoria Police’s new powers under the Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012 and Drugs, Poisons & Controlled Substances Act 1981.
• $8.7 million over five years starting in 2025-26 supporting the operations of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to deliver the key priorities and ensure it operates effectively and efficiently.

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

This year’s Budget again has a significant focus on youth justice. While YACVic is supportive of the investment in prevention and early intervention, it is deeply concerning to see the majority of funding in this space go towards punitive and This refers to environments like prisons, jails, or detention centres.carceral responses over rehabilitative and restorative justice approaches.

YACVic reiterates its strong condemnation of the so called ‘Adult Time for Violent Crime’ legislation passed in 2025, which allows children to be sentenced in the adult criminal legal system, including life sentences. These laws run contrary to the decades of evidence showing that harsh punishments do not reduce offending.

YACVic echoes the calls of our partner the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) that:

• “The investment of $33 million over three years through the Violence Reduction Unit and the $5.5 million allocated to support the recommendations from the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group, signals that this Government knows where investment is needed – in early intervention and addressing root causes, as the evidence suggests. But this is not comparable to the investments made to boost police and policing measures across this budget. We urge the Government to prioritise greater investment in early intervention and prevention moving forward.”

This budget sees a significant increase in spending on prisons and police, with messaging from the government that this is justified due to the increase in the prison population following bail and sentencing reforms.

YACVic maintains that success should not be measured by how many jail cells are filled, but by the reduction in incarceration. We urge the Government to prioritise evidence-based polices that prevent crime in the first place, including progressive bail reform. We support the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Bail Saves Lives campaign and the implementation of Poccum’s Law.

One of the wins in this budget is funding for community-based prevention and early intervention programs, including for WestJustice to expand its Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Program to three new regions. YACVic is heartened to see significant investment in the Violence Reduction Unit and looks forward to working with the VRU on its important work in delivering programs that focus on prevention and early intervention.

We also welcome continued funding for the Victims’ Legal Service, in line with advocacy from VALS. However, we are deeply disappointed that several other key priorities raised by VALS have been ignored, including funding for the statewide rollout of the Balit Ngulu service model, and continued funding for the Aboriginal Community Justice Reports (ACJRs) which means the future of this program is now at immediate risk. The current level of funding for Balit Ngulu, VALS’ dedicated legal practice for Aboriginal children and young people, means it is only available in metropolitan Melbourne and Shepparton. At a time when Aboriginal young people are being overpoliced and overrepresented in the youth justice system, access to specialised, culturally safe legal services is crucial. An expansion in these services would enable VALS to provide holistic legal support and case management early, to potentially avoid or reduce child protection involvement, and hopefully avoid any future contact with the criminal legal system.

Self-determined and Aboriginal led programs are imperative in supporting Aboriginal young people. We are disappointed by the lack of funding in this budget allocated to First Nations organisations working in the criminal legal system as this does not align with government commitments to achieve better justice outcomes for First Nations people.

YACVic is also concerned to see this budget provide $48.7 million to Victoria Police to recruit an additional 50 Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and to expand policing operations in shopping centres. At a time when safe, accessible public spaces for young people are diminishing, increased policing risks further criminalising young people. Evidence consistently shows that investment in youth workers is more cost effective in reducing crime, but this is missing in the budget.

However, this budget's commitment and funding to review of the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) presents a welcome opportunity to apply evidence-based, restorative and diversionary approaches to sentencing. YACVic looks forward to contributing the expertise of young people and the youth sector to this process.

Read more from the justice sector:

• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)
• Youthlaw
• Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS)
• Jesuit Social Services (JSS)
• Westjustice

Significant Announcements:

Social and Community Housing:

• $860 million over five years starting in 2025-26 for the Social Housing Growth Fund and Affordable Housing Investment Partnerships. This will deliver around 7000 new social housing homes, to be delivered by the community housing sector over the next 10 years, and around 22,000 homes over 30 years. 10% of these homes will be dedicated for First Nations people.
• $2 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for continuing investment in North Richmond public housing estate, to improve service access, How a person engages in work or education and how their engagement contributes to what financial resources and opportunities they may have.economic participation, enhance A facility for public use such as a park, toilet or playground.public amenity and infrastructure, and improve safety.

Homelessness:

• $15.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue supportive housing for rough sleepers using the housing first model, maintaining critical service delivery operations at five supportive housing sites across Victoria, which provide accommodation and wrap-around supports to people.
• $25.8 million over four years starting 2026-27 for homelessness services including the expansion of assertive outreach services to proactively engage with people sleeping rough and connect them to housing support, as well as provide additional emergency accommodation.
• $6.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 to expand the Tenancy Plus program, supporting social housing renters at risk of eviction and homelessness, including targeted support for First Peoples social housing tenants.

Building, planning and land:

• $80.8 million over four years starting 2026-27 to continue delivering housing and building policy and reform. This funding supports ongoing reform delivery, A legal requirement to ensure faulty  goods and services are refunded, repaired, or replaced under consumer law.consumer protection, and a building system through governance, policy oversight, and regulatory reviews, as well as continuation of the Building Monitor to advocate for and advise on consumer interests.
• $15.6 million over four years starting 2026-27 to continue delivering the 10-year plan for Melbourne’s greenfields.
• $9.9 million over three years starting 2026-27 to continue the Development Facilitation Program, fast-tracking planning pathways for priority housing and building projects.
• $11 million over two years starting 2026-27 to update Victoria’s planning legislation and systems to make sure decisions are made faster.
• Extension of the temporary off-the-plan stamp duty concession for apartments, units and town houses for 6 months (until 21 April 2027). This reduces the cost for purchases.

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

YACVic is pleased to see investment in the delivery of 7000 social housing tenancies over the next 10 years and a dedicated focus on supporting First Nations people. However, this is only a small step in the right direction. Social housing in Victoria after the Big Housing Build will make up just 3.5% of homes, compared with 4.5% nationally, and Infrastructure Victoria has recommended that the government must commit to building 4,000 homes a year to make up the difference. Over 56,000 households are on a housing waiting list in Victoria, with those deemed a priority facing average delays of 17 months.

The government has provided much needed funding to support front-line homelessness services. With a thousand more young people accessing homelessness supports each year (an increase of 5 per cent), this investment is much needed.

But, there is no dedicated funding for youth housing or a dedicated youth housing and homelessness strategy. Young people aged 12-24 make up 25% of all young people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, and have distinct experiences and pathways into homelessness. There must be a dedicated youth housing response to support young people to maintain tenancies before crisis point.

YACVic is concerned to see that funding for the highly successful Youth Capital Grants program appears to have lapsed in this budget and are hearing initial reports from our partner organisations in the youth housing space that other programs have not been refunded.

There is also limited relief to support private renters. Rents are rising faster than incomes, placing young renters – often moving more often, and in insecure, low-paid work – under significant vulnerability and financial pressure to keep a roof over their heads. Rental assistance is far cheaper that costly crisis responses.

We also disappointed to again see no funding for the promised 500 housing places for young people experiencing homelessness and mental ill health – a funding commitment made by the government five years ago.

Content warning: discussion of suicide and mental-ill health.

Significant Announcements:

• $10 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for mental health and wellbeing care in the community, including to continue the Youth Outreach and Recovery Service (YORS), Victoria’s only statewide outreach service for young people aged 16–25 with complex mental health challenges. Funding is also provided to continue the Be Well in the Ranges program, delivering localised mental health and wellbeing support to the Kinglake Ranges community.
• $29.7 million over two years starting in 2026-27 to expand and continue the Hospital in the Home program, delivering a new 10-bed mental health Hospital in the Home program operated by Monash Health. This is alongside 10 youth mental health Hospital in the Home beds operated by Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

Diverse communities:

• $6.5 million over two years starting 2026-27 to support groups disproportionately impacted by suicide, continuing delivery of:

a) the LGBTIQA+ aftercare program delivered by Mind Australia

b) the Standby Support After Suicide postvention program, and

c) clinical uplift support for the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) program.

Funding is also provided to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention led by the Balit Durn Durn Centre and continuation of the Aboriginal Medico-Legal Support Officer position at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

• $0.8 million over two years starting 2026-27 for mental health support for diverse and marginalised communities to continue the Q*Space program to deliver comprehensive, trauma-informed and affirming support to LGBTIQA+ individuals in regional and rural Victoria. Funding will also support continued delivery of the Auslan workforce project, in partnership with Monash University and Deaf-led organisations.

Mental health workforce:

• $44.9 million over four years starting 2026-27 to strengthen mental health workforce sustainability. Funding will support Victoria’s mental health workforce through programs for psychology registrars, psychiatry training pathways, and junior medical officer psychiatry rotations.
• $5.5 million over two years starting in 2026-27 to improve Victoria’s mental health crisis response services, expanding service provision for Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services’ crisis outreach teams. Funding is also provided to continue the Definition.Telehealth Prehospital Response of Mental Health and Paramedic Team to provide better access to care for mental health patients who call Triple Zero.

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

YACVic is pleased to see continued funding for essential mental health crisis response services for young people, including $10 million for the Youth Outreach and Recovery Service (YORS), supporting services to connect with young people in their own communities.

However, there remains a critical service gap in regional communities for young people seeking mental health support, who often face long waitlists, increased costs, and limited options for inclusive and accessible services locally.

We welcome the investment of $6.5 million in A coordinated and planned response to support those affected by a suicide in their community.postvention and aftercare programs to communities disproportionately impacted by suicide, providing inclusive and trauma-informed care to LGBTIQA+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, with a focus on rural and regional communities.

However, we are disappointed to see no investment in evidence-based and community-led prevention and wellbeing initiatives addressing the overrepresentation of marginalised young people experiencing ill mental health, including funding for tailored youth mental health education and capacity building initiatives.

Reports of racism and anti-LGBTIQA+ hate and attacks are increasing in-person and online, particularly against trans and gender diverse young people, highlighting a clear and immediate need for meaningful investment in initiatives addressing harmful gender- and race-based stereotypes, and promoting equality and inclusion in mental health services, systems and policies.

Read more from the mental health sector:

• Mental Health Victoria

Significant Announcements:

Inclusive and accessible education support:

• $2.14 billion over four years starting 2026-27 for Disability Inclusion in schools to sustain Victoria’s Disability Inclusion reforms, meeting demand for individualised disability support in government schools. This supports adjustments and assistance for students with disability with high and complex needs.
• $24.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 for High Intensity Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) to continue support for existing OSHC services with high educator-to-child ratios at specialist schools. This includes free High Intensity OSHC at 31 specialist schools.
• $39 million over one year starting 2026-27 for the students with disabilities transport program to continue transport assistance for eligible students to travel to government specialist schools. New buses will be purchased to replace older models, and new services will be introduced from the 2027 school year to meet growth in demand.
• $28.9 million over three years starting 2025-26 for Accessible Buildings Program, improving access to school facilities for students with disability and additional needs. Facility modifications may include ramps and handrails, alterations to toilet and shower facilities and adjustments for students with vision or hearing impairments.
• $61.9 million over four years starting 2026-27 to meet demand for the English as an Additional Language program, supporting eligible government school students who do not speak English as their first language at home to become proficient in English, including Australian-born students, newly-arrived migrants and students from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Funding is also provided to meet demand for interpreting and translating services in schools.
• $0.9 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for Courage to Care to deliver the Upstander Program delivers educational sessions and resources to encourage Victorian students to challenge racism and other discriminatory behaviours.

Secondary School Pathways:

• $69.3 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for continuing Vocational Education and Training (VET) and applied learning pathways in schools, including:

a) VET administration funding for schools to meet the costs associated with growing demand and uptake

b) VET cluster coordinators to provide schools with specialised assistance with VET provision

c) VET transport funding for rural and regional students.

• $75.5 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for in-demand careers for secondary students, providing supports for high-quality career education and work-based learning for secondary students including:

a) career advice services and support for early school leavers to engage with education, training or employment pathways

b) support for priority cohort students with goal setting and career pathway planning through the pilot program – Enhanced My Career Insights

c) targeted local activities, including Vocational Taster Experiences for year 9 and 10 students

d) support for work-based learning opportunities in priority industries

e) targeted supports for students enrolled in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships through Head Start

f) increased pathways and opportunities for rural and regional students.

• $221.3 million over five years starting in 2025-26 for rebuilding the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). Funding is provided to enable VCAA to deliver high-quality curriculum, assessment and reporting, and implement the recommendations from the Blacher Review, including delivering new IT infrastructure to support schools, teachers and students.

Workforce support:

• $25.1 million over three years starting in 2026-27 delivering critical school workforce reforms, providing paid placements and placement support for pre-service teachers.
• $23.5 million over four years starting in 2026-27 supporting best practice teaching and learning, including continued funding for the Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) program which supports teachers to assess the learning progress of students with disability
• $49.2 million over four years starting in 2026-27 to Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership to continue delivering quality, evidence-informed professional learning that enhances the capability and performance of Victorian teachers and school leaders.
• $8.4 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for Strengthening child safety in schools to enhance the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority’s regulatory capacity.

Rural and regional:

• $1.4 million over two years starting 2026-27 for Our Place partnership and delivering Place-Based Education Plans. Funding is provided to continue the Shepparton Education Plan which provides student and family engagement and wellbeing services and post-secondary pathways to students at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College. Funding is also provided to continue the Melbourne Victory School of Football program at John Fawkner College.

Other announcements:

• $1.7 million over three years starting in 2026-27 for locally driven education programs for government school students.
• $59.4 million over 4 years starting in 2026-27, supporting families with the cost of education through the:

a) Affordable School Uniforms program which provides free uniforms and other essential school items to students experiencing financial hardship

b) School Breakfast Clubs which deliver free and nutritious breakfasts, lunches, snacks and take-home food packs to students in need. Additional funding is also provided to State Schools’ Relief to assist their work with disadvantaged Victorian students and their families.

• $391.8 million over five years starting in 2025-26 for school enrolment-based funding to meet student enrolment growth in government and non-government schools.
• $522.8 million over five years starting in 2025-26 for essential maintenance and compliance programs, including the:

a) Planned Maintenance program to address priority defects in school assets

b) Make-safe program to assist schools that have sustained damage through an incident or extreme weather event

c) Student Resource Package Annual Contracts to support schools to undertake servicing, inspection and testing of key assets.

• $30.4 million over two years starting in 2025-26 for securing school IT to migrate schools operating their own technology platforms to equivalent centrally provided technology platforms operated by the Department of Education, helping to reduce cybersecurity technology risks.
• $43 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for the Modular Classrooms Program to relieve pressure at schools that are reaching their capacity and to provide additional functional spaces for learning.
• $419.5 million over four years starting in 2026-27 to build four new schools including:

a) Rockbank Toolern Road Primary School (Interim Name)

b) Thompsons East Primary School (Interim Name)

c) Wollahra Secondary School (Interim Name)

d) South Melbourne Primary School

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

One of the biggest wins in this Budget comes in the education portfolio with a historic investment in supports and resources for disabled young people in Victorian public schools including specialist schools.

This includes $2.14 billion to strengthen disability inclusion in schools for students with complex needs, $39 million for transport assistance for disabled young people to travel to public schools, $29 million for accessible school buildings, and $24 million for High Intensity Outside School Hours Care at specialist schools.

YACVic strongly supports this investment and looks forward to working with the government alongside our partner organisation, the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS), to ensure these initiatives deliver meaningful outcomes for disabled young people. Central to this is ensuring disabled young people are directly involved in co-design, recognising disabled young people are the experts in their own needs.

YACVic also welcomes the $75.5 million investment for providing career education and work-based learning for secondary students for in-demand careers for secondary students including a focus on increased pathways and opportunities for rural and regional students, a key recommendation from YACVic’s submission into the Inquiry into Student Pathways to In-Demand Industries.

YACVic remains deeply concerned that the Victorian government is still yet to sign an agreement with the Federal government to secure a full funding deal for the Schools Resourcing Standard (SRS), meaning Victorian public schools are currently the lowest funded in Australia. YACVic reiterates our call for the Victorian government to fully fund Victoria’s public schools to meet the SRS.

You can read more about YACVic’s work in this space and the flow on impacts this delay in funding is having on young people and the school workforce across the state in our recent submission to the Victorian Inquiry into Public School Funding.

Significant Announcements:

Disaster recovery and response:

• $336.3 million over five years starting in 2025-26 for bushfire relief and recovery, to meet the immediate emergency response and recovery needs of 2026 bushfire-affected communities. Alongside financial support, funding will support 1800 Recovery Hotline and community recovery officers and hubs, localised counselling and mental health supports, and psychosocial recovery support in schools.
• $1.5 million over two years starting in 2025-26 for the implementation of Plan for Victoria to better coordinate risk prevention and response to natural disasters with local government through an updated Victoria Planning Provisions toolkit. Funding is also provided to the Geelong Authority to support housing delivery.

Emergency services:

• $146.8 million over four years starting in 2026-27 to secure critical aviation fire services resources to support the State’s firefighting capability for the upcoming and future bushfire seasons, enabling a rapid response to emergency events.
• $22.1 million over four years starting 2026-27 for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to improve the safety and experience of CFA volunteers, including:

a) improving internet connection across rural and remote brigades

b) enhancing volunteer wellbeing support services

c) supporting driver training

d) providing additional personal protective clothing and equipment

e) supporting the Country Fire Authority’s 2026-27 Get Fire Ready weekend

• $2.4 million over two years starting in 2026-27 to strengthen the Victoria State Emergency Service (VicSES) to keep communities safe from flooding by updating Local Flood Guides and Municipal Flood and Storm Emergency Plans.
• $9.3 million over three years starting in 2026-27 for Emergency Alert Funding, supporting Victoria’s contribution to operating and maintaining the national Emergency Alert system, enabling emergency services to send targeted voice and text message warnings to people in affected areas. This will ensure Victoria can continue issuing timely, reliable emergency warnings to help keep communities safe.

Renewable energy:

• Delivering on the Victorian commitment under the Renewable Energy Transformation Agreement Funding is to be provided to support Victoria’s commitment under the Involving two different groups and/or people.bilateral Renewable Energy Transformation Agreement. Funding figures for this budget measure has not reported at this time as commercial arrangements are still to be finalised.
• $2.1 million in 2026-27 for faster, fit for purpose environmental assessments and approvals to support renewable energy and affordable housing projects. This initiative will support the development of critical infrastructure for Victoria’s energy transition and housing delivery.
• $28.1 million in 2026-27 for Victoria’s Solar Homes program providing hot water rebates to enable more eligible households to install energy efficient electric heat pumps and solar hot water systems in their homes.
• $4.9 million in 2026-27 for faster approvals for renewable energy projects to support Victoria’s critical energy transition and renewable energy agenda, including the assessment of alternative renewable energy projects, and to finalise a cost-recovery model for Environment Effects Statements (EES).

What does this mean for young people and the youth sector:

YACVic welcomes the investment of over $336 million in critical bushfire response and recovery initiatives, particularly the inclusion of specific funding for mental health and psychosocial support for regional young people impacted by the rise in disasters and extreme weather events.

The climate crisis poses one of the biggest economic, social, and environmental threats to current and future generations, with young people experiencing increasing rates of climate anxiety. Disaster events are becoming more frequent and intense, with ongoing impact on affected regional young people’s access to education, work, social supports and services as they help rebuild and strengthen their communities.

Meaningful and sustained investment is needed in youth-led, evidence-based emergency management and response initiatives in regional communities, embedding young people in decision-making and design processes to ensure programs are responsive to their needs.

Read more from the environment sector:

• Environment Victoria

Significant Announcements:

Skills, TAFE and Workforce Development:

• $243.9 million over two years starting 2026-27 to expand Free TAFE and subsidised training to meet demands and address skill shortages in priority courses.
• $87.2 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue the TAFE Services Fund, including to support student inclusion and wellbeing programs, training delivery, facilities, equipment and shared ICT platforms and services.
• $3.3 million in 2026-27 to extend the Skills Solutions Partnerships program to design and pilot training approaches that address skills shortages in priority areas (e.g. AI, advanced manufacturing and defence industry, leadership and technology adoption).
• $6.4 million over two years starting 2025-26 to improve the skills and capacity of the VET workforce in clean energy, manufacturing, and the construction sectors through embedding industry expertise and digitally enabled teaching.
• $5.4 million over four years starting 2025-26 to continue supporting the VET workforce, including the retention of teachers, trainers and assessors through professional development opportunities.
• $5.8 million over two years starting 2026-27 to deliver apprentice and employer support services to improve outcomes for apprentices, a stronger apprenticeship regulatory framework and for the Workplace Rights Apprentice Training program.

TAFE Centres of Excellence:

• $19.9 million over four years starting 2025-26 for a Digital, AI and Technology TAFE Centre of Excellence at Chisholm Institute’s campus in Frankston.
• $20.8 million over four years starting 2025-26 for a Home and Community Care TAFE Centre of Excellence at Holmesglen Institute.
• $25 million over four years starting 2025-26 for a Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence at Gippsland TAFE in Morwell, with connecting hubs in Ballarat and Warrnambool. Also, to upgrade the Electricity Supply Industry Training Centre at Holmesglen TAFE’s Chadstone campus.

Content warning: discussion of femicide, family and gender-based violence.

Significant Announcements:

• $74.4 million over two years starting 2026-27 for family violence response, continuing safe and secure accommodation for victim survivors and their families. This includes funding for:

a) core and cluster refuges and short-term supported crisis accommodation.

b) statewide expansion of the Personal Safety Initiative and security upgrades to support victim survivors to remain safely in their own homes.

c) specialist supports including case management.

d) therapeutic interventions for children and young people.

e) emergency crisis and flexible support packages.

• $23.2 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue the statewide Central Information Point, a multi-agency service that collates and shares relevant information about the risk of harm posed by perpetrators of family violence to inform family violence risk assessment and management.
• $2.2 million over two years starting 2026-27 for Sexual Assault Services Victoria to continue sector leadership and workforce development.

Read more from the family violence sector:

• Safe and Equal
• Sexual Assault Services Victoria

Significant Announcements:

• $9.6 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue the Victorian Pill Testing Service (VPTS) across fixed-sites and festivals, building on the drug-checking trial and strengthening early warning systems to identity and disseminate public health information.
• $31.7 million over two years starting 2026-27 for alcohol and other drug community support services to reduce harm, including:

a) Continuation of the Aboriginal Metropolitan Ice Partnerships program.

b) New opioid pharmacotherapy programmatic initiatives, including a low does methadone trial and a tailored Aboriginal The use of prescribed medication to aid in treating addiction.pharmacotherapy program.

c) The provision of take-home Naloxone.

d) Continuation of services at the Melbourne Drug Court.

e) Continuation of First Step to provide mental health and addiction support services.

f) Initiatives to support the continued implementation of the Statewide Action Plan and the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy.

• $0.6 million in 2026-27 to continue funding the community hub in Footscray in partnership with the Salvation Army, providing place-based multidisciplinary harm reduction and outreach supports to address increasing drug harms and demand for health and social services.
• $52.3 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue a health-led response to public intoxication, including:

a) outreach and sobering services in Melbourne.

b) First Nations-led public intoxication services.

c) centralised coordination and rapid dispatch support.

d) Implementation Monitoring and Oversight Group to advise on culturally responsive public intoxication reform and implementation support across Victoria.

• $10 million in 2026-27 for the continuation of the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Capital Renewal Fund, improving the quality and amenity of mental health and alcohol and other drugs facilities.

Read more from the alcohol and other drug sector:

• Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)
• Youth Support Advocacy Service (YSAS)

Significant Announcements:

• $280.8 million over 5 years starting 2025-26 to deliver child protection and care services, including:

a) Continuation of residential care placements

b) Continuation of the Child Protection Family Law program

c) fire safety upgrades for homes for children with complex disability support needs

d) Continuation of compensation for institutional child abuse claims

• $16.8 million in 2026-27 to support worker screening service, including working with children and NDIS screening checks.
• $15 million over four years starting 2026-27 to index care allowances to align with the This records the change in costs of goods and services purchased by households. It is used to measure inflation.Consumer Price Index (CPI), to deliver support to foster carers, kinship carers, and permanent carers looking after children and young people.
• $164.7 million over two years starting 2026-27 to continue Restoring Families intensive family support services, allowing at-risk children to remain at home and prevent entry into more acute and Required by law.statutory child protection services, including:

a) the Family Preservation and Reunification program (FPRR)

b) the Community Connectors program

c) supporting children at risk of engagement in the justice system

d) the Outcomes, Practice and Evidence Network

e) support for Victorians who were in institutional care prior to 1990.

Read more from the child welfare sector:

• The Centre For Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CFECFW)

Significant Announcements:

Health workforce and system capacity:

• $49 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for care through Local Health Service Networks to support collaborative care in communities, more equitable access to service delivery, increased consistency of quality and safety of care, and improved workforce pathways.
• $31.3 million over two years in 2026-27 towards strengthening health workforce sustainability through additional graduate nurse and midwifery positions, the Aboriginal cadetship and scholarship program, and the Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy Student Grants program.

Preventative and community health:

• $21.2 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for the Community-based A long lasting health condition that has significant symptoms that impact everyday life.chronic disease program to deliver additional hours of care for more than 4,500 people living with a chronic disease through registered community health services. Funding is also provided to continue preventing chronic disease through the Healthy Loddon Campaspe program, with a focus on healthy eating and keeping people active.
• $10.4 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for preventative health support for Victorian women, supporting peer-led sexual health and wellbeing services for sex workers and 12 women’s health organisations across Victoria to provide preventive health promotion and education to Victorian women, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health, cervical cancer screening and chronic illness.
• $9 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for vaccines for Victorians, including a dedicated Victorian Meningococcal B immunisation program and an uplift to support the Secondary School Immunisation program.

Public health and urgent care:

• $34.5 million in 2026-26 for the continued operation of Local Public Health Units to support a strong public health protection network.
• $10 million in 2026-27 to maintain nine Urgent Care Clinics to treat patients who require urgent, non-emergency care.

Other measures:

• $6.4 million in 2026-27 in protecting the health of priority populations through the Victorian HIV Treatment Program, providing access to antiretroviral therapy through public hospital pharmacies for people living with HIV without access to Medicare.
• $1.6 million over two years starting in 2026-27 in reducing and eliminating blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. Funding will deliver point of care testing for sexually transmissible infectious and blood-borne viruses in healthcare settings.

Significant Announcements:

• $432.5 million over two years starting 2025-26 for free and half price public transport. This includes making all public transport free from 31 March to 31 May 2026, then half price from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2027.
• $79 million over four years starting 2026-27 to deliver new and improved bus services and to maintain ferry services.
• $92.3 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for train services across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
• $136.9 million over two years starting in 2025-26 to support regional rail network operations.
• $5.5 million in 2026-27 for Melbourne’s tram network.
• $3.6 million in 2026-27 for the Northern Rail Program development, to improve capacity on the Craigieburn, Upfield and Seymour (Wallan) rail.

Significant Announcements:

Roads and infrastructure:

• $5.7 million over two years starting in 2026-27 in regional roads upgrade program, improving network efficiency, safety and travel time for road users.
• $351.7 million over two years starting in 2025-26 to boost road maintenance activities, including planned pavement renewal works, landslip repairs, routine maintenance and road resurfacing and rehabilitation.
• $136.9 million over two years starting in 2025-26 for regional rail sustainability, supporting regional rail network operations including:

a) operating and maintenance costs for Regional Rail Revival program assets

b) operating costs for new VLocity trains

c) operating costs for the upgraded South Dynon stabling and train maintenance facility, and

d) V/Line’s corporate and operational costs.

Funding is also provided for V/Line to deliver major periodic and routine maintenance works to maintain the sustainability of the regional passenger rail network.

• $39.7 million over two years starting in 2025-26 to complete the Restoring Flows to the Mallee Floodplain program, provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Federation Funding Agreement – Environment. The program will upgrade existing environmental watering sites to efficiently return wet and dry cycles to 16 of the region’s most ecologically and culturally significant wetlands and floodplains, to enable Basin Plan environmental outcomes to be achieved with less water recovery.
• $26.5 million over three years starting 2026-27 for the Future Regions initiative to boost productivity, liveability and investment in Victoria’s regions by investing in enabling infrastructure, attracting industry investment, supporting worker housing, and improving community amenity.
• $1.2 million in 2026-27 for regional touring initiatives, supporting regional audiences to access creative experiences in regional venues which would otherwise require travel to urban areas.

Education:

• $1.4 million over two years starting in 2026-27 to continue the Shepparton Education Plan which provides student and family engagement and wellbeing services and post-secondary pathways to students at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
• $0.5 million over two years starting 2025-26 for Gippsland Community Education Programs to support the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council in delivering place-based programs that develop skills and reconnect those who are unemployed or experiencing long-term unemployment with education and training.

Farming and agriculture:

• $7.4 million in 2026-27 to support the health, safety and wellbeing of agricultural communities. This includes funding for:

a) the National Centre for Farmer Health

b) the Rural Women’s Network, and

c) the first phase of the Bendigo Livestock Exchange roof project.

Funding is also provided for the Rural Financial Counselling Service in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, to continue delivering free financial counselling to Victorian farmers, fishers, foresters and related small businesses experiencing or at risk of financial hardship.

• $5 million over two years starting in 2025-26 to deliver on-farm activities relating to climate and energy to support lower energy costs and Materials like carbon dioxide and methane that are released into the air, caused by human activities such as burning fuel.emissions reductions, including providing incentives for farmers to undertake electrification and energy efficiency activities on farm.

Read more:

• Regional Cities Victoria

Significant Announcements:

Child and family programs:

• $5.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 to expand the Community Protecting Boorais program, for Aboriginal-led investigation of Child Protection reports. This funding will also support Aboriginal-led service delivery.

Yoorrook:

• $6 million over two years starting 2026-27 to progress the Yoorrook Justice Commission, including to coordinate and begin implementing the recommendations from the third interim report Yoorrook for Transformation, and to facilitate the whole of Victorian Government response to the Commission’s Yoorrook for Transformation report.

Education and Learning:

• $2.4 million over four years starting 2026-27 to continue the First Nations’ Curriculum Clusters Project to support the teaching of First Nations’ histories, cultures and perspectives in selected schools.

Youth Justice:

• $7.6 million over four years starting 2026-27 for a dedicated Koori Hearing List at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to deliver culturally appropriate and timely case management for matters involving First Nations accused, including applications for bail.
• $8.1 million over two years starting 2026-27 for the continuation of:

a) a pilot that transitions the Aboriginal Justice Community Panels volunteer workforce into paid positions across three regional sites – Shepparton, Mildura and Bendigo

b) the Ngarra Jarranounith Place Residential Diversion Program, a residential healing and behaviour change program for Aboriginal men who use, or are at risk of using, family violence.

Housing:

• Of the $860 million allocated to the Social Housing Growth Fund expected to deliver around 7000 new social housing homes over the next 10 years, 10% of these homes will be dedicated to First Peoples.
• $16 million over four years starting 2026-27 for Rent-To-Buy pilot for First Peoples to support increased home ownership. The program will be delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and deliver up to 30 newly constructed affordable rental dwellings for First Peoples.

Health and mental health:

• $30.6 million over three years starting 2025-26 for the Wathaurong Dreaming Project for the redevelopment of their premises in North Geelong. The funding will be used to consolidate staff, services and Community facilities and provide additional consultation rooms for primary care, including GP, dental and other allied health facilities. 
• Part of the $6.5 million over two years to support suicide prevention will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people led by the Balit Durn Durn Centre.
• Part of the $31.7 million over two years for alcohol and other drug community support services includes:

a) Continuation of the Aboriginal Metropolitan Ice Partnerships program.

b) New opioid pharmacotherapy programmatic initiatives, including a low does methadone trial and a tailored Aboriginal pharmacotherapy program.

Read more from some of Victoria’s Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs):

VALS:

• “What is clear from the decisions made, is that in the first year of Victoria’s Treaty, Aboriginal self-determined solutions to address the overrepresentation of our people in the justice system were blatantly overlooked and ignored. This so called “careful choice” will hurt Aboriginal communities.”

VACCHO:

• VACCHO CEO Dr Jill Gallagher AO said about the Wathaurong Dreaming Project: “This much needed redevelopment will ensure that the Community have a fit-for-purpose, culturally safe spaces designed to deliver comprehensive and integrated care. While the commitment for Wathaurong is certainly welcomed, there is still a long way to go in improving ACCO infrastructure across the state.”  

Significant Announcements:

• $22.5 million in 2026-27 to maintain delivery of the Home and Community Care Program for Younger People program, which enables independent living in the home and community for people with disability outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Funding is also provided to assess people with disability seeking to have allied health supports included within their NDIS plans.
• $41.5 million over two years starting 2026-27 for continued support for Victorians with disability, including:

a) the Victorian Disability Advocacy Program

b) autism assessments grants

c) family services support for vulnerable children with disability and their families

d) support services for Victorians with disability who are ineligible to receive services from the NDIS due to their residency status

e) the Disability Liaison Officers Program in Health Services.

• $2.4 billion over five years for foundational supports for people with disability. Consistent with commitments under the National Agreement on Foundational Supports, Victoria has agreed to jointly fund Foundational Supports, with $2.4 billion over five years. This includes funding for Thriving Kids to support children aged 0-8 years with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families and carers. The phasing of funding and the roll-out of further components of Foundational Supports will be determined through bilateral agreements between Victoria and the Commonwealth.

Inclusive and accessible education support:

• $2.14 billion over four years starting 2026-27 for Disability Inclusion in schools to sustain Victoria’s Disability Inclusion reforms, meeting demand for individualised disability support in government schools. This supports adjustments and assistance for students with disability with high and complex needs.
• $24.1m over two years starting 2026-27 for High Intensity Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) to continue support for existing OSHC services with high educator-to-child ratios at specialist schools. This includes free High Intensity OSHC at 31 specialist schools.
• $39m over one year starting 2026-27 for the students with disabilities transport program to continue transport assistance for eligible students to travel to government specialist schools. New buses will be purchased to replace older models, and new services will be introduced from the 2027 school year to meet growth in demand.
• $28.9m over three years starting 2025-26 for Accessible Buildings Program, improving access to school facilities for students with disability and additional needs. Facility modifications may include ramps and handrails, alterations to toilet and shower facilities and adjustments for students with vision or hearing impairments.
• $10 million in 2026-27 for TAFE accessibility works and infrastructure to improve access to training facilities for people with disability and additional needs.
• $17 million over two years starting 2025-26 for Multi-Purpose Taxi Program to support changing travel patterns in the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP), and to continue the current MPTP lifting fee paid to drivers for wheelchairs accessible vehicle (WAV) trips. This will incentivise supply and improve the availability of WAV services for MPTP members with mobility needs.

Read more from the disability sector:

• National Disability Services (NDS)

Significant Announcements:

• $6.5 million over two years starting in 2026-27 for LGBTIQA+ Equality Policy and Programs, continuing support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the health, wellbeing, and community connectedness of LGBTIQA+ Victorians, including:

a) the QHub program to support young people and their families in western Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities with place-based mental health and wellbeing support services

b) the Trans and Gender Diverse Peer Support Program providing mental health support and peer-led services

c) Victoria’s Pride events and the Regional Activation Programs to deliver meaningful, safe events.

• $5.5 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for care and support for people born with variations in Physical features that relate to a person's sex such as reproductive organs and hormones.sex characteristics. Funding supports the implementation of new legislation that will improve healthcare and safeguards for people born with variations in sex characteristics, particularly infants and young children, including developing and delivering education and training to support health professionals, people with variations in sex characteristics and their families.
• $10.1 million over three years starting in 2026-27 for enhancing legal assistance for Victorians.

Funding is provided to continue legal services and improve access to justice for vulnerable Victorians and improve justice system efficiency to:

a) continue the Help Before Court program that supports people to resolve their matter at their first hearing

b) continue the Independent Family Advocacy and Support program that works with parents and primary carers in the early (pre-court) phase of child protection involvement

c) deliver specialist legal services for LGBTIQA+ Victorians.

• $0.2 million in 2026-27 to improve outcomes for Victorian women and address gender equality gaps, including continuing the Joan Kirner Leadership Program, which promotes the participation, leadership and recognition of young women and gender diverse young people.

Significant Announcements:

• $61.9 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for the English as an Additional Language program in the 2027 school year. The program supports eligible government school students who do not speak English as their first language at home to become proficient in English, including Australian-born students, newly-arrived migrants and students from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
• $5.5 million over two years starting in 2026-27 to begin implementing key recommendations of the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group, focusing on addressing the over-representation of South Sudanese Australian young people in the criminal justice system. This includes:

a) continuation of targeted local community programs to support South Sudanese Australian young people

b) service design, community engagement and planning for the establishment of a South Sudanese Community Hub to coordinate culturally safe supports.

• $3.4 million in 2026-27 for initiatives that support community-led efforts to address and prevent racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. Funding also continues support for programs delivered by the Bachar Houli Foundation.
• $3.4 million in 2026-27 to support asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees. Funding includes general practitioner care, case coordination, homelessness assistance and immediate needs such as utilities, clothing and food for people seeking asylum and living in Victoria who are ineligible for Commonwealth supports.

Read more from the multicultural youth sector:

Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY):

“…at a time when multicultural young people are feeling the weight of economic uncertainty, housing stress and mental health pressures acutely, along with the added complexity of racism and other forms of exclusion, this budget offers little to reassure them.”

Significant Announcements:

• $26.2 million over four years starting in 2026-27 for the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, an independent regulator and to implement the Rapid Child Safety Review recommendations.
• $4.5 million in 2026-27 for the delivery of a contemporary music strategy under Creative State 2028, including existing initiatives like:

a) the Victorian Music Development Office,

b) the Songwriting in Schools program and Music Works.

These programs will provide research, development, training and resources to businesses, support song writing in schools and support local music enterprises to undertake new projects and develop audiences.

• $35.9 million over three years starting 2025-26 for community sports infrastructure and participation initiatives. Infrastructure will be prioritised in disadvantaged communities and for groups with lower participation in sport and active recreation. Funding is also provided to continue support for community sport and active recreation programs that address key barriers to participation, including:

a) the Get Active Kids Voucher Program

b) basketball hubs.

These programs will provide additional participation opportunities for priority groups.

• $1.7 million in 2026-27 in better community facilities to improve outdoor spaces and facilities for Victorian communities.
• $36.4 million in 2027-28 for Supporting Victoria’s State Sporting Centres, including the State Sport Centres Trust and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.