People with a disability, their families and carers, as well as people who are either homeless or facing homelessness, are set to benefit from a significant boost from the 2015-16 Victorian Budget.
The Andrews Labor Government will provide the biggest increase in a State Government Budget since 2008-09 for Individual Support Packages (ISPs) for people with disabilities. The $151 million funding will provide up to an additional 830 ISPs to enable families to get the support and respite they need and to help young people with disabilities transitioning from school.
This will contribute to the Labor Government’s commitment of $2.5 billion for the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The Budget also includes continuing funding of $40.3 million for seven Homelessness Innovation Action Projects across the state which will assist 2000 people experiencing homelessness.
While the Royal Commission into Family Violence continues its work, $7.5 million will provide an immediate boost to agencies supporting women and children fleeing family violence who are at high risk of homelessness.
This includes funding for existing agencies through the Housing Establishment Fund and the state wide family violence crisis service, Safe Steps, which runs a 24/7 hotline with practical advice and help for women fleeing family violence.
Five Work and Learning Centres in Carlton, Geelong, Moe, Shepparton, and Ballarat will receive $6.6 million to help around 1,465 people in their search for work. The centres provide career guidance, training, education, access to IT, help accessing childcare, referrals to local employers, and referrals to health, mental health, drug, and alcohol services.
The 100 residents of The Gatwick Hotel rooming house in St Kilda will live in more comfortable surrounds following a $600,000 upgrade to its rooms and facilities.
A $6.8 million boost will cover the indexation to the Home and Community Care Services Program, to provide domestic assistance, personal care home nursing and allied health services to people in need.
The Labor Government will also deliver on its commitment to stop the sell-off of public aged care beds proposed by the previous Liberal Government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Martin Foley
“After years of cuts to social services by the Liberals including $470 million in Housing alone, our first Budget is targeted to help those Victorians most in need, with a mixture of increased resources, practical investment and innovative responses to the challenges of disadvantage.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is very proud to deliver up to 830 new Individual Support Packages which will mean more support for young people with a disability and much needed respite for their families and carers.”
“Women and children fleeing family violence are at high risk of homelessness and the Budget will provide more crisis accommodation and support where it’s needed.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020