With more than 92 per cent of eligible Victorians double dose vaccinated, coronavirus restrictions are being updated to ensure Victorians enjoy more freedoms this festive season, keeping themselves and their families safe while the Omicron variant is monitored and investigated.

Additionally, all Victorians who are eligible for a booster five months after their second shot are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible.

Remember masks are still required in settings including indoor retail, public transport, aged care and hospitals.

You can read more about these announcements here: premier.vic.gov.au/updated-public-health-protections-keep-victorians-safe.

More information about coronavirus settings will also be available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

No more boom gates on the metro line in the Werribee District!

The dangerous level crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing has been removed, with a new road bridge open to drivers early morning on 9 December 2021.

The new 1.2 kilometre road bridge provides a direct connection from Old Geelong Road to Princes Highway, creating safer and more reliable journeys.

The level crossing has officially closed to drivers, however people travelling on foot or by bike will continue to cross over the rail line at the current pedestrian gates until the new pedestrian and cyclist overpass at Hoppers Crossing Station opens in 2022.

It's the 55th dangerous and congested level crossing to be removed in Melbourne, with 85 going by 2025.

Thanks to the community and road users for their patience while we worked to get rid of this level crossing and deliver some fantastic benefits to the local area.

A few years ago, I announced that Wyndham Warriors BMX Club will be receiving funding from the Andrews Labor Government to upgrade its facilities.

And recently, I was pleased to join with club members for their Christmas function, to officially open the upgraded score shed and storage area.

Improving facilities for local community clubs is important, as it can encourage participation in local sports such as BMX, and lead to healthier, active lifestyles.

Thank you to Gary Morgan, and everyone at Wyndham Warriors BMX Club!

Fantastic news for local Werribee schools!

Little River Primary School, Werribee Primary School, and Wyndham Vale Primary School have received funding through the second round of the Andrews Labor Government's Minor Capital Works Fund.

Wyndham Vale Primary School and Werribee Primary School students will be getting oval upgrades at their schools, whilst students at Little River Primary School can look forward to the construction of a natural landscaped play area.

The Minor Capital Works Fund supports improvements to the learning environment, condition, or character of Victorian Government Schools, including those here in the Werribee District.

The Andrews Government has announced 94 schools will share in $7.26 million of Planned Maintenance Program funding for vital improvements to classrooms and school grounds.

This includes Westgrove Primary School here in the Werribee District. 

The projects address priority maintenance issues identified by our ongoing evaluation of all school facilities – with work including fixing roofs and windows, repainting walls, resurfacing floors and replacing windows, pathways and stairs.

This fund makes sure all existing buildings at Victoria’s 1,500 government schools are safe, modern and properly maintained to ensure students and staff are comfortable and safe at school.

The Wyndham Early Parenting Centre is coming soon to Werribee.

I recently joined with Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly, Member for Western Metropolitan Region Kaushaliya Vaghela and Tweddle Chief Executive Jacquie O’Brien at the chosen site for the centre, along the Princes Highway.

Wyndham's Early Parenting Centre will deliver flexible, targeted services to help parents with sleep and settling issues, supporting hundreds of local families each year.

And it's part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $123 million investment that will deliver seven Early Parenting Centres in major growth areas.

Construction for this new centre is expected to start early next year, and be completed late 2022.

Victorian students have been confirmed as the nation’s highest achievers in the 2021 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

The NAPLAN 2021 National Report released recently shows Victoria had the highest number of students performing at or above the national minimum standard of any state or territory on 13 of the 20 NAPLAN measures.

Congratulations to schools in Werribee – amongst all the challenges of the past year, your hard work has paid off – and we’re so proud of all our students, teachers, principals and their families.

These results show that our investment in the Education State is paying off – not just improving students’ school outcomes, but setting them up with the skills they need to succeed into their adult lives.

One thousand more Victorian students can now see more clearly and concentrate better at school, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s free Glasses for Kids program.

The 1000^th pair of free glasses have been prescribed  to a student at Rochester Primary School in the Shire of Campaspe.

One of 16 students at his school to receive free vision screening and testing at school, Grade 2 student Charlie Holland received his new glasses alongside six classmates.

Children with undiagnosed vision problems often find it hard to concentrate at school, which presents challenges when it comes to actively engaging in their learning – but too many Victorian families avoid eye testing due to the prohibitive cost of glasses.

The Victorian-first program, which is managed and delivered by State Schools’ Relief, has helped more than 22,000 Prep to Year 3 students at 395 schools across Victoria have their eyes screened and, if needed, receive free glasses.

The Victorian Budget 2019/20 invested $1.6 million to deliver the second round of the Glasses for Kids program – supporting students with undiagnosed vision impairments, regardless of their background, to achieve their best at school and beyond.

This builds on the $800,000 the Labor Government has already provided to this initiative since coming to government, ensuring a child’s education isn’t disadvantaged by easily treated issues like vision impairment.

The second phase of the program, means the program will visit an extra 340 schools – testing around 40,000 more Prep to Grade 3 students.

100,000 Victorians have signed up to the Andrews Labor Government’s Free TAFE program since it was introduced in 2019 – making rewarding career pathways accessible to more Victorians and saving them more than $220 million in course fees.

The milestone was reached as the Labor Government unveiled another major funding boost of $108 million for skills and training to support the huge growth in enrolments.

The extra support will deliver a 25 per cent boost in funding – taking the Government’s investment to $530 million over two years. It will help TAFEs continue to recover from the challenges of the pandemic and importantly provide the skills we need as Victoria emerges from the pandemic through course delivery and student services.

The Labor Government will enshrine TAFEs purpose, value and role in legislation, setting a clear pathway for the state to continue delivering world-class training. Consultation with the sector on the modernised legislation will begin soon.

The Andrews Labor Government has introduced legislation that will allow Victorians diagnosed with silicosis and similar occupational diseases to access compensation quicker and easier.
 
People who work with engineered stone, commonly used for bench tops, are at risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust, which can lead to deadly lung and respiratory diseases, including silicosis. Tragically, since the start of 2021 four workers have died from silica related illness and WorkSafe has accepted 59 claims for silica related diseases.
 
Recognising the progressive and ongoing nature of diseases such as silicosis, the changes in the Workplace Safety Legislation and Other Matters Amendment Bill 2021 will mean workers with eligible diseases will not need to prove that their injury has stabilised to access lump sum payments.
 
It will also allow injured workers who have already received compensation for silica-related diseases to make a subsequent application for damages if they develop a further related disease or injury down the track.
 
The Bill provides greater support to Victorians who have received a lung transplant due to a work-related injury and extends compensation for counselling services to families of workers diagnosed with an eligible disease.
 
Further reforms in the Bill will also improve access and deliver better support to families of deceased workers, with weekly pension payments for children with disability to be extended from the age of 16 to the age of 25. In the event of a work-related death outside of Australia, overseas costs related to a funeral, cremation, burial or repatriation will be compensated under the changes. Family members located overseas will also be able to access financial support to travel to attend the funeral of their loved one in Australia.
 
These changes introduced to Parliament today are in line with the Labor Government’s Silica Action Plan, which has also permanently banned dry-cutting, introduced Australia’s first licensing scheme for businesses working with engineered stone, and provided free health screenings for past and present stonemasons.

The Victorian Tunnelling Centre has produced its first round of graduates, with 26 current and former trainees now working on the city-shaping Metro Tunnel Project.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan recently visited the world-class centre, which includes life-sized replicas of mined and bored tunnels and a massive tunnel boring machine cutterhead.

The tunnelling centre is located at Holmesglen Institute’s Drummond Street campus in Chadstone and was built as part of the Metro Tunnel Project’s contract with major contractors CYP Design and Construction.

It is operated by Holmesglen Institute, a leading TAFE for construction and civil engineering training, and has facilities to train up to 5,000 workers a year in underground construction and maintenance, including tunnel boring machine (TBM) operation.

The centre provides a real-world experience, with the TBM replica tunnel built at the same 7.28m diameter as the Metro Tunnel, and the replica mined tunnel the width of a three-lane freeway. Training includes augmented and virtual reality programs.

The centre is the only facility of its kind in Australia where students can train within replica mined and bored tunnels on the same site. It is one of only a few such facilities in the world and was partly modelled on the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) established for London’s Crossrail.

The centre will train skilled workers for the Andrews Labor Government’s massive pipeline of infrastructure projects in the coming years, including the North East Link and Suburban Rail Loop.

Construction starts next year on Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East between Cheltenham and Box Hill creating up to 8,000 direct jobs – with the twin 26 kilometre tunnels allowing trainees and graduates to draw on the unique skills developed through the tunnelling centre.

Training and skills development will be a priority for the project, with the Initial and Early Works contract announced last week creating up to 800 jobs - including 75 new roles for Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets. Across the project 14 per cent of the total hours worked will be undertaken by next-generation recruits – well above Government targets.

Victoria has a long and proud history of innovation and it’s something Victorians have done with distinction over a long period. 

From perhaps Victoria’s first innovators the Gunditjmara people from the south-west, who devised a way to ensure a year-round supply of eels at Budj Bim more than 6,000 years ago, to hearing devices like the world’s first first bionic ear implanted at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in 1978, and beyond, Victoria has been at the forefront of innovation.  

The Victorian Government’s Innovation Statement is a bold new plan to keep our state at the forefront of innovation, drive economic growth and create thousands of jobs for generations to come.

Recently, we have taken vital steps to protect waterways here in Melbourne’s west for future generations.

With the influence of climate change and rapid population growth stronger than any other area of Melbourne, we need new approaches to managing these rivers and creeks.

The Waterways of the West Action Plan brings the 50-year community vision for Melbourne’s west to life.
We’re caring for our rivers, creeks and riparian landscapes as unique, interconnected living systems, protecting them from pollution and overdevelopment.

As such, this plan will address waterway health, waterway amenity and impacts of development on waterway landscapes.

We will partner with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners, community and government partners to deliver this plan.

For more information, please visit www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways-and-catchments/wow.

The Andrews Government has announced the opening of operations of the Victorian Big Battery – the biggest battery in the southern hemisphere!
 
The 300-megawatt Tesla system is the largest battery in the southern hemisphere and created more than 150 jobs during construction.

It will help modernise the state’s electricity grid, support new renewable energy capacity and improve the reliability of power supply in the face of increasingly hot summers.

The Government is supercharging Victoria’s Zero Emissions Vehicle journey with easier access to Victoria’s $3,000 ZEV Subsidy, $5 million awarded for a public fast-charging network, $3 million in new charging grants for local council and business fleets, and a new public information campaign.

These recent announcements, made under the Government’s $100 million Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap, will significantly ramp up Victoria’s charging infrastructure coverage, slash emissions, and in the longer term make ZEVs more affordable by growing the second-hand market.

The Victorian Government is backing our MedTech entrepreneurs and cementing Victoria’s reputation as a leader in global healthcare innovation by investing in the commercialisation of our best and brightest ideas.

An additional $2.4 million in funding will be provided by our startup agency LaunchVic, to enable to MedTech Actuator to continue the valuable work they do in supporting MedTech startups to scale.

MedTech Actuator supports Victorian MedTech, HealthTech and BioTech startups through intensive mentorship and industry collaboration. The additional funding will accelerate the growth of our HealthTech startup sector at a time when innovative healthcare is more important than ever.

Through LaunchVic, we’re delivering a number of programs to support startups and investors to grow.
Nurturing a thriving startup ecosystem is a key action area of our recently launched Innovation Statement – a bold new plan to keep Victoria at the forefront of innovation, drive economic growth and create jobs.

For more information about the Innovation Statement, visit vic.gov.au/innovation.

To learn more about LaunchVic and the MedTech Actuator program, visit launchvic.org/medtech.

Victorian scientists and manufacturers have created Australia’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate and they’ve done it in just five months.

This is the first time in Australia anyone has successfully manufactured a mRNA product or a mRNA Covid 19 vaccine candidate. 
 
The Andrews Labor Government funded the purchase of new mRNA manufacturing equipment as part of the $5 million announcement in June 2021 to support Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) advance doses for Phase 1 clinical trials of Australia’s due to start earlier next year. 
 
This manufacturing breakthrough was led by mRNA Victoria in partnership with Monash University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Doherty Institute and IDT Australia, utilizing Victoria’s strong medical research and manufacturing capabilities.  
 
mRNA capability is revolutionising medical research globally and has the capacity for broad based application in HIV, cancer and many other therapeutics. 
 
This announcement is a major breakthrough and first for complex mRNA manufacturing in Australia. 

Victoria is leading the nation in mRNA research to fast-track sovereign manufacturing and health-care breakthroughs, and the Andrews Government has recently announced the largest ever dedicated mRNA research grant program seen in Australia. 
 
The $21 million mRNA Victoria Activation Program (mAP) will support bold ideas to grow Victoria’s RNA research, development and manufacturing capability. 
 
mAP grants will provide broad-based support to grow the RNA ecosystem, including support for clinical research and projects to develop enabling technology such as artificial intelligence, next-generation manufacturing, safety testing and alternative vaccine delivery methods. 
 
The Program is part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $50 million commitment to mRNA Victoria. 

Huge announcement.

Victoria will become the first place in the southern hemisphere to manufacture mRNA vaccines, after the Victorian Government reached an in-principle agreement with the Commonwealth Government and Moderna.

Under the deal Moderna’s new manufacturing and finishing facilities and Australian research centre will all be based in Victoria.

That means more jobs here in our state, as well as vaccine security, clinical trials, world leading research into diseases, cancer treatments, cellular engineering and protein replacement therapy.

We know our mental health system needs to grow to care for every Victorian who needs it. That’s why we’re not wasting a moment in delivering the Royal Commission’s recommendations – because lives depend on it.

Recently we marked the beginning of construction on a new 22-bed acute mental health facility at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), delivering on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

The Royal Commission recommended 135 more mental health beds be delivered in health services across the state – but the Labor Government will deliver 144, investing $492 million to future-proof the mental health system as Victoria grows.

We know our mental health system needs to be expanded – and we’re getting on with delivering more beds so people in Melbourne get the support they need, close to home.

Our mental health system and its workers have been under pressure for far too long.

That’s why the Andrew’s Labor Government are delivering on yet another key recommendation from the Royal Commission and releasing the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy – supported by an immediate investment of $41 million in funding to help us boost, nurture, and sustain the mental health workforce.

And to attract even more talented and dedicated mental health workers to Victoria’s public mental health system – we’re launching a new campaign to showcase the current job opportunities within the mental health system

So whether you’re a student or experienced health professional – there’s no better time to bring your skills to these exciting new career opportunities.

To find out more about job opportunities, visit health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthworkforce.

The Victorian Government has taken another important step forward and delivered on yet another Royal Commission recommendation.

Over $100 million has been announced to deliver 35 acute mental health beds across Melbourne and Shepparton that will specifically support women with a range of complex conditions.

The beds will be provided through a mix of hospital and home-based care through Ramsay Health Care’s Albert Road Clinic in Melbourne and Shepparton Private Hospital

The service will assist up to 750-800 women across the State each year as part of the new Specialist Women’s Mental Health Service.

The Royal Commission heard from many women who described experiences of gender-based harm in the mental health system – and this unique response model will ensure gender and sexual safety for women in acute inpatient settings, helping them to recover in a setting appropriate to their level of need.

The Andrews Government has launched the Free from Violence Second Action Plan (2022-2025) – the midway point of our 10-year plan to break the cycle of family and gendered violence in Victoria.  
 
The Second Action Plan builds on the strong foundations of the First Action Plan (2018-2021) and is our guide to the next three years of primary prevention work in Victoria.
 
The Plan focuses on scaling up innovative prevention initiatives across key settings and building on what we have learnt. It also provides the foundation for new work, including to address sexual violence, work towards affirmative consent, and equip more Victorians to speak up and take action when they witness disrespect and violence.
 
The Plan’s priorities include building knowledge and community engagement and awareness, such as through Respect Victoria’s research alliance, ‘Call it Out’ and other new campaigns focused on the experiences of young people, Aboriginal Victorians and people with a disability.
 
Preventing family and gendered violence requires social and cultural change. Through the Second Action Plan we reassert our commitment to challenging gender inequality across communities while recognising the diversity of experiences of those who are impacted by violence.
 
Victoria continues to lead the nation in our work to end family and gendered violence. Our investment exceeds $3.5 billion – more than every other state or territory combined, and exceeds the investment of the Commonwealth.

The Andrews Government has announced reforms to prohibit alleged perpetrators from being notified of or attending financial assistance hearings at the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) for family violence and sexual assault offences.

This change in the law means that victim survivors can access the support they need without the fear of confronting the perpetrator.  The Minister also released the Victim Support Update at an event with victim survivors and community stakeholders. 

The Update outlines the Government’s achievements to date and how it will continue to centre reform to the victim service and justice system on the voices of victim survivors.

This work includes building the new Financial Assistance Scheme which will replace VOCAT, creating the new Victim-Centred Restorative Justice Service and Victims Legal Service, continuing the Intermediaries Program and developing the new Aboriginal Victims of Crime Strategy.

For further information, visit vic.gov.au/victim-support-update.

The Andrews Labor Government will deliver dozens of new homes in Carlton as part of its landmark Big Housing Build – helping those who need it most and creating thousands of jobs along the way.

The new $40 million development in Carlton North was unveiled recently, and will provide safe, securing housing for people aged over 50 – with at least half of the new homes to go to women.

Women over 55 are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia for a range of reasons – including family violence, being out of the workforce to raise families and low superannuation.
More than 10,000 women aged over 50 were supported by Victorian Specialist Homelessness Services last year, with 40 per cent of these women citing domestic and family violence as their main reason for seeking help.

The 62-unit apartment building is close to public transport, shops, health, education, and other support services and will help break the cycle of homelessness.

The building will provide new homes for Victorians under the From Homelessness to a Home program – which is providing support and housing to people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping who were given emergency accommodation during the pandemic, and people on the Victorian Housing Register wait list.

Wintringham, a specialist housing and support agency with a focus on older Victorians, will manage the site and planning is underway so tenants can start moving in the new year.

Other services such as support workers, community health and allied health services will support the new tenants at the site, which will also include a 24-hour concierge and on-site security.

The building is being funded by the Labor Government’s spot purchase program, which is part of the landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build that will deliver more than 12,000 homes across Victoria.

Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Streets will be transformed into a huge street party – with two live music stages and performances from musicians and artists – to celebrate Victoria’s diverse LGBTIQ+ communities.

Australian neo-soul pop duo Electric Fields will headline the inaugural Melbourne Pride – a free street party on Sunday 13 February 2022, that will bring Melbourne’s summer of pride to a close.

Set across three stages, the party will run from 11:00am until late and feature a diverse range of performers including Kira Puru, drag DJ duo The Jawbreakers, Vetta Borne, KYVA, award winning cabaret company YUMMY, art experience creators All the Queens Men, and cabaret performer Ruben Kaye.

With more performers to be announced soon, there will be something for everyone – from DJs to performance artists and even an opera composed by Deborah Cheetham and Evan Lawson.

Melbourne Pride marks the 40-year anniversary of the decriminalisation of sex between men in Victoria and will be the final major LGBTIQ+ event for summer following Midsumma on January 23 and Pride March on February 6.

Local businesses all down Gertrude and Smith Street will benefit from the party – serving food and drink to the thousands of people expected to attend across the day, while some will be incorporated into the party with shopfront activations and performances in venues.

Melbourne Pride celebrates our LGBTIQ+ communities, with a series of activities across the state including in our regional communities over the entire summer.

Regional activities are already underway – among the first events being held today is Pop-Up Pride in Bendigo, which is bringing drag performances, live music, stalls, a Trans Clothing Swap, short films from the Bendigo Queer Film Festival and exhibitions to the heart of the regional city.

Leading LGBTIQ+ arts and cultural organisation Midsumma is delivering the events with further details of the street party to be released soon.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested more than $1.9 million to deliver Melbourne Pride, as part of our broader work to achieve equality for LGBTIQ+ Victorians

The Andrews Labor Government has released its Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy, setting the vision for boating investment and infrastructure until 2030.

A first-of-its-kind strategy, the comprehensive document has been developed with Better Boating over the past year and will guide Government investment in improving recreational boating.

The strategy outlines the priorities for future boating investment identified by boaters through extensive consultation, including drop-in sessions at key boating locations.

Projects earmarked include new pontoons, expanding the Boating Vic camera network, additional launching lanes and much more.

Underpinned by the strategy, annual action plans will allocate the yearly investment from the Better Boating Fund. 

This fund was established in 2021 to put recreational boating registration and licence fees to work and is reinvesting a record $33 million this financial year into projects and programs to make boating even better.

As summer approaches, recreational boaters and fishers across Victoria are encouraged to brush up on safety rules and prepare their vessels to stay safe and avoid fines on the water.

Marine incident rates are returning to pre-pandemic levels with 1,248 serious incidents in 2020-21, compared to 1,134 in 2019-20. These include boat fires, capsizes, structural failure, flooding, and a spear fisher struck by a vessel.

Victorians can stay safe on the water by following simple steps, starting with checking they hold a valid recreational boating and/or fishing licence.

It is more important than ever for Victorians to familiarise themselves with waterway rules at transportsafety.vic.gov.au/msv/waterways.

The Andrews Government has officially launched the #DrinkVictorian program.

Across Melbourne, 100 venues are participating in the program, supporting the promotion of Victorian drinks. 

Victorian drink producers have faced challenges due to the pandemic, bushfires, export trade challenges and strong international and interstate competition in the domestic market.

Global Victoria and Agriculture Victoria supported the Victorian Drinks Alliance in developing the Drink Victorian project to alleviate these pressures by increasing domestic demand for Victorian alcoholic drinks.

To learn more, visit drinkvictorian.com.

There are so many amazing small businesses across Victoria ready to serve you.

No matter where you live, whether you’re in Melbourne, Macedon or Mallacoota, I encourage you to support small businesses this Summer and #BuyLocalVic.

When you buy from a small business, you’re directly contributing to your local community – helping everyone in the supply chain from the business owner to their employees, to the suppliers and delivery people.

The Victorian Government has supported over 170,000 small and independent businesses, providing more than $11 billion since the start of the pandemic.

Let’s all support our local small businesses this Summer so they can thrive in 2022

Home grown international netball superstar Sharelle McMahon is set to be immortalised in bronze to honour her outstanding achievements in netball at a State, National and International level.
 
Made possible by the Andrews Labor Government’s Celebrating Female Sporting Icons initiative, the statue will recognise her significant contribution to the netball community, immortalising her in sporting history, and inspiring the next generation of female athletes and leaders.
 
The statue will be erected outside John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park.
 
McMahon has been involved in netball as both a player and coach for the last 25 years, and represented Melbourne Phoenix and later Melbourne Vixens as a player more than 200 times.
 
At age 21, she made her debut as the youngest member of the Australian Diamonds, and was part of the team which won the Gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
 
McMahon captained Australia 12 times in an international career which spanned 14 years and 118 Test matches and included two Gold and two Silver medals across four Commonwealth Games and two Netball World Cup victories.
 
The Labor Government will work closely with the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and Netball Victoria to deliver the statue and is committed to ensuring greater representation and recognition of women and girls in sport and recreation.

The Andrews Labor Government is providing additional support to local councils to create a culture of equality and respect, and deliver prevention of family and gendered violence initiatives in local communities across Victoria.

Across 2018-2020, the Andrews Government provided $2.75 million to 35 councils to help them develop a whole-of-council, best-practice approach to preventing family and gendered violence in local government settings.

A further $3.58 million is now available to extend that support for up to 15 more councils through the Free from Violence Local Government Program 2022-2025.

The funding will be used to promote respectful relationships in community sports, early childhood services and parenting groups. It will also support training and workshops to increase awareness and understanding across councils of the drivers of family and gendered violence and how to stop violence before it starts.

Victorian councils are well placed to influence social change, with reach into the community through the delivery of community services and as large local employers.

Applications for the program close on 28 February 2022.  

For more information, please visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/grants/free-from-violence-local-government-program.

Support is now available to schools to apply for one-off funding assistance and advice in assessing, managing and, if required, removing high-risk trees where schools do not otherwise have the financial capacity to do so, through the Safe Tree Program.
 
The program is open to all government schools across Victoria, and applications can be made at any time throughout the year.
 
Information on the program and how to apply can be found at schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Pages/SafeTreeProgram.aspx.

The 2021–22 Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund (MCIF) provides grants of up to $500,000 to Victoria’s culturally diverse communities to help upgrade, renovate and maintain community infrastructure.
 
Having safe and secure places to celebrate and share cultural history and traditions ensures Victoria's multicultural communities continue to build connections and celebrate diversity. 
 
MCIF supports infrastructure projects that are ready to proceed and can be completed by 1 May 2023.
 
Applications close 31 January 2022.
 
For more information, visit vic.gov.au/multicultural-community-infrastructure-fund.

Nominations are now open for Victoria's first ever Multicultural Honour Roll.
 
The Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll will recognise the efforts of individuals, community and not-for-profit groups who have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to multiculturalism in Victoria.
 
It will focus on the vital role of local champions from diverse backgrounds in keeping our communities safe and connected.
 
The new honour roll will also spotlight those who promote multicultural civic participation and the social, cultural and economic benefits of diversity.
 
Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll inductees will be announced as part of Cultural Diversity Week celebrations in 2022. Cultural Diversity Week coincides with the United Nations International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony day on 21 March.
 
Nominations are open until 16 January 2022.

For more information or to nominate, visit multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/victorian-multicultural-honour-roll.

We’re backing women entrepreneurs by investing early-stage capital in a number of startups through the first round of LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund.

Named in honour of the founder of Australia’s first all-woman motor garage and repair workshop, which opened in Kew in 1919, the $10 million fund co-invests in businesses founded by women including the team behind a wearable breast pump, a sustainable outdoor clothing label and a social fitness app. 

The Fund’s inaugural round has delivered $727,167 in direct investments – along with more than $2.3 million in co-contributions from private investors – to businesses established by female entrepreneurs,

The initiative is helping women-led business overcome funding hurdles, and the fund aims to ensure women entrepreneurs have every opportunity they need to succeed.

Applications remain open to early-stage investors looking to back promising women-led startups.

To learn more, visit launchvic.org/alice-anderson-fund.

The Andrews Labor Government is preserving Victoria’s past with the Local History Grants program, making the state’s rich history and the lived stories behind it more accessible to all Victorians.
 
The program will support projects that preserve, record and share Victoria’s history.
 
Managed by Public Record Office Victoria, the program is now accepting applications for funding up to $15,000 per project, for local historians and community organisations across the state.
 
The Local History Grants have seen the diverse tapestry of Victoria’s local history enshrined, with last year’s fund attracting 52 community groups who explored their unique stories across multiple mediums.
 
Applications close 24 January 2022.

Community groups can apply for funding at prov.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/local-history-grants-program.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has continued through 2021, Melburnians have continued to change and adapt their daily lives.

We have continued living more locally and experiencing our neighbourhoods and communities in new and different ways.

12 months on from our initial ‘Living Locally’ survey, we’re asking again for your reflections on the past year, what have you learned, what changes have you made to your life, and what might the future look like for you and your community?

The community’s input will help state and local governments plan for the future and address the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

The survey will be live on Engage Victoria until 28 February 2022.

To take part, visit engage.vic.gov.au/living-locally.