Creating jobs and caring for macedon

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

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.

Gisborne Secondary College is one of 52 Victorian schools that will be upgraded in this year’s Budget. This $12.93 million investment will refurbish Block B and deliver new basketball and netball facilities. Not only will this give our students new learning and play 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.

Every day, our firefighters keep our state safe. This Budget backs their work, delivering $890,000 for a new station for Metcalfe CFA, ensuring our volunteers have the very best facilities and equipment.

Better roads get us where we need to go sooner, and safer – and building them creates new jobs for Victorians. It’s why this Budget delivers funding towards upgrades along Macedon-Woodend Road (Black Forest Drive), improving safety and connectivity for local commuters.

The best start in life for young Victorians begins with a great early education. That’s why the Labor Government is rolling out three-year-old kinder for every Victorian child from next year. That means every child in Macedon will have access to at least five hours of funded kinder per week, increasing to 15 hours by 2029. It’s not just great news for kids – families will save $1150 on average, while an extra 6,000 roles for qualified early childhood teachers and educators will also be created.

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.

Not only are we delivering the mental health system Victoria needs – we’re also supporting around 3000 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.

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.

With this Budget, we’re creating jobs and caring for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"I’m proud to continue to deliver for the Macedon community. As a former teacher, I know how much this investment in Gisborne Secondary School matters."

"Upgrading Black Forest Drive will get people home sooner and safer. This will make a real difference to the community, while also supporting local jobs."

"We’ll make sure our investments in mental health reach every corner of our state, ensuring regional Victorians are getting the care they deserve."