Our state-run health services have delivered more vaccines than any other state or territory, and so much of that is down to our vast network of easy-to-access community vaccination centres.

Since the start of the program, 166 vaccine hubs have operated, plus more than 1,322 community pop-ups and as of 1 March, 5,972,174 doses have been delivered through Victoria’s state-run centres.

122,000 doses have been delivered at Werribee's Eagle Stadium between 22 February 2021 and 28 February 2022.

This puts it amongst the top 25 state vaccination sites in Victoria.

Thank you to all those in Werribee and the wider Wyndham community who have rolled up their sleeves and received their vaccinations – and thank you to all of our health services, community health partners and staff for making it happen.

In a major boost for mental health services in Victoria, Werribee has been announced as part of the next tranche of Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services that will be rolling out across Victoria.

The Local Services will be the new ’front-door’ to the reformed mental health and wellbeing system without the need for a GP referral or the pressures of a clinical hospital emergency department.

The centres will provide treatment and support for those experiencing mental illness or psychological distress.

The Royal Commission recommended the establishment of up to 60 Local Services across Victoria by 2026 and only one year in, we are well on our way to delivering this with 27 locations now announced.

Wyndham is a proud multicultural city.

The Victorian Interfaith Networks Festival held in Hoppers Crossing was a celebration of Wyndham – and our state's – wonderful diversity.

It was great to meet with so many locals, and speak about the importance of social cohesion in our multi-faith and multicultural communities.

The recipients of the 2021-22 round of the Pride Events and Festivals Fund has recently been announced, with 20 organisations receiving funding to run events that help to connect Victoria’s diverse rainbow communities.

Orygen, located in Hoppers Crossing was one of the many successful grant recipients.

The recipients include ‘Rainbow Yarning,’ a series of workshops and yarning circles for Aboriginal community members to explore their LGBTIQ+ identities, connect with others and build inclusion and pride, as well as a regional Pride Prom and a program to create short films and features celebrating LGBTIQ+ Victorians to be shown at a drive-in.

Almost half of the funded activities will be in regional Victoria, including ‘Queers on the Catwalk’, an event that will support LGBTIQ+ people of all ages in the Macedon Ranges and surrounds to express their identity through clothing.

The program aligns with the Andrews Labor Government’s long-term plan to create safe, strong and sustainable LGBTIQ+ communities under Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-2032, which was released last month.

The strategy will drive the Government’s work to change laws and policies, strengthen state-based services and support LGBTIQ+ organisations and events over the next decade to drive meaningful change. 

For a full list of recipients, please visit: vic.gov.au/successful-recipients-pride-events-and-festivals-fund.

Following an impressive line-up of finalists from across Victoria, the winners and runners-up across seven categories of the 2021 Volunteering Awards have been announced in a special ceremony at Government House on 25 March.

Congratulations to Parks Victoria, AMES & Sikh Partnership for being a Volunteering Partnerships Award Winner.

These awards recognise some of Victoria’s most dedicated and generous volunteers, who give their time, energy, and skills to helping others in their community to stay safe and connected.

The prestigious title of Premier’s Volunteer of the Year has been awarded to Jaya Manchikanti, who received the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch trophy and a $10,000 donation towards a community organisation of her choice.

The design for the boat ramp upgrade in Werribee South has been finalised.

The upgrade is part of the Andrews Labor Government's unprecedented $47.2 million investment to improve recreational boating in Victoria.

Getting out on the water is a big part of life for many locals, so it's important to invest in better facilities to make that easier and safer.

We released an initial concept last year and it’s great to see the local community chipped in and had their say to help inform this final design and make the ramp far more functional, especially at peak times like during snapper season.

For more information on the Werribee South Boat Ramp upgrade, and to view the final design, visit betterboating.vic.gov.au/ramp-upgrades/werribee-south.

Consultation is now open for the Werribee Main Road/Princes Freeway Interchange Upgrade.

From Wednesday 16 March until Monday 4 April, Major Roads Project Vic are seeking feedback to help inform the planning and shape the development of design options for the project.

To participate, head on over to engage.vic.gov.au/werribee-main-road-interchange-upgrade.

New shaded outdoor learning spaces are being rolled out across Werribee schools, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

The School Shade Sails Fund is a part of over $190 million investment to support ventilation and outdoor learning in Victorian schools.

And it's just one of the measures we’re taking to make our schools as safe as possible for Victorian students, including those here in Werribee.
 

We've reached a milestone for Werribee's two new schools opening in 2023!

Hutchinson Builders has been appointed to build Holyoake Parade Primary School and Lollypop Creek Primary School (interim names).

And as you can see above, early works have begun at the school sites!

Holyoake Parade and Lollypop Creek will be two of 12 new schools that the Andrews Labor Government will open next year. And I'll keep you posted on information and updates about these exciting projects through the year.

We’re delivering new schools right across the state, and here in Werribee, to make sure every Victorian student and family has access to the best facilities and the best opportunities to succeed at school.

The Andrews Labor Government announcement of the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee will mean Victorians who work in casual or other insecure jobs will no longer be forced to choose between a day’s pay and looking after their health – or the health of a loved one.

An Australian-first, the $245.6 million scheme will transform casual and contract work in Victoria by providing vulnerable workers the safety net they need to take time off when they are sick or need to care for their loved ones.

Before the pandemic, many casual and contract workers were forced to choose between a day‘s pay their health.

And around one in five casual and contract workers work more than one job to earn a living – many without access to sick and carer’s pay.

Workers are now able to register for the two-year pilot program, which is fully funded by the Government. Eligible casual and contract workers in certain occupations will receive up to five days a year of sick or carer's pay at the national minimum wage.

Occupations included in the first phase include hospitality workers, food trades workers and preparation assistants such as chefs and kitchen hands, supermarket and supply chain workers, retail and sales assistants, aged and disability care workers, cleaners and laundry workers and security guards.

More than 150,000 workers are expected to be eligible in this first phase of the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee.

To find out more and to register your interest, visit vic.gov.au/sick-pay-guarantee.

Victorians are being urged to search for forgotten cash. 

The Government is encouraging all Victorians check if they can lay claim to a share of millions of dollars in unclaimed cash.
 
The State Revenue Office (SRO) has identified $111 million in unclaimed money that belongs to people of all ages from across the state.

The cash is theirs for the taking if individuals and companies can establish their bona fides through a simple system that begins with an online search.

There are more than 740,000 entitlements waiting to be claimed.
 
There are unclaimed money entitlements all across Victoria. Please visit sro.vic.gov.au/unclaimedmoneylga to see how many claims what their total values are in your local government area.
 
To claim owed monies, Victorians can visit sro.vic.gov.au/unclaimedmoney and submit a personal or company name and the address that the lodging organisation would have had on file.

29 March 2022 marked six years since the world-first Royal Commission into Family Violence handed down its final report.

Since then, the Andrews Labor Government has implemented 204 of the 227 recommendations, supported by more than $3.5 billion of investment to deliver key systemic changes to the way we prevent and respond to family violence in Victoria.

This includes the roll out of 14 Orange Door Networks, including one under construction in Werribee.

It's been an incredibly challenging couple of years for everyone in our community – but for no one more than the adults, children and young people experiencing family violence, and the services that support them.

Despite the pandemic, our state’s exceptional family violence sector, victim-survivor advocates, academics and policy experts have continued Victoria’s nation-leading efforts to end family violence.

Reforms like these change lives and save lives – it’s complex and it’s ongoing.

We will not rest until we achieve a Victoria free from violence.

One year after the historic delivery of the final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, we have made huge inroads into the landmark reform of the state’s mental health system – with work underway on more than 85 per cent of the 74 recommendations.

Progress has already been made on 65 of 74 recommendations, backed by our record $3.8 billion investment in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 – the largest single investment in mental health in Australia’s history.

We've embarked on the biggest reform of a mental health system in our nation's history - and we're not wasting a minute building a system that works for every Victorian who needs care as soon as they need it, no matter where they live.

Whether it's walk-in, community-based care or acute hospital treatment, we're making seeking mental health treatment more accessible for every young Victorian - with more than $842 million invested in youth mental health alone last year, and new services already open right across the state.

Growing our mental health system to reach everyone who needs it also means growing our workforce - and through our Workforce Strategy, a campaign to attract the best and brightest mental health workers to help us build our new services and dedicated investment to get more mental health workers into regional Victoria.

We're doing the work to make sure our mental health services are something every Victorian can be proud of.

The Andrews Labor Government's record $3.8 billion mental health investment in the 2021-22 Victorian State Budget includes $842 million over four years to deliver a dedicated mental health and wellbeing system for children, young people, and their families. 

This includes:

• More than $300 million to increase the capacity of Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, which provide treatment, care and support to infants, children and young people and their families with the most complex needs.
• More residential mental health treatment and support for those aged 16 to 25 including a 20-bed facility in Parkville opening in the coming weeks. 
• Expanded suicide prevention programs and services for children, young people and adults including four dedicated child and youth HOPE services opening this year providing follow-up aftercare support for people following a suicide attempt.
• Construction has started on Victoria’s first Child and Family Centre, providing specialised mental health care to children under 11 in an environment that allows them to stay with, and be supported by, their families.
• In June 2021 we announced an additional investment of $2.24 million to deliver surge teams of clinicians in all 13 specialist Child and Youth Mental Health Services, working with local headspace centres.

From March 30, providers in the student mental health and wellbeing sector can sign-up to deliver their services in Victorian schools, as part of the full Schools Mental Health Fund Menu.

The Andrews Labor Government will boost mental health and wellbeing support at Victorian schools, ensuring kids have access to a full suite of mental health tools to thrive at school and in life, as a key response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System gets underway.

The new Menu underpins the Labor Government’s $200 million Schools Mental Health Fund, providing funding for resources and initiatives to better support student mental health.

It responds to a key recommendation of the landmark Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (Recommendation 17), which recognised the important role schools have in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.
 
It will allow schools to select evidence-based programs and initiatives from the full online Menu across three tiers of intervention, including positive mental health promotion, early intervention and cohort specific initiatives and targeted support.

The interim Menu was released in 2021 and features positive mental health promotion items such as wellbeing dogs and training for teachers in trauma-informed practice.

The Schools Mental Health Fund to be fully implemented in government schools in regional Victoria from mid-2022 and across the state by 2024.

Providers across the student mental health and wellbeing sector can submit via the Buying for Victoria Tenders Portal before Monday, 9 May 2022.

All schools, including Catholic and independent schools, will be able to access and view the Menu.

To find out more about the Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu visit education.vic.gov.au.

For more information, please visit education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-menu-eoi.aspx.

The 25th of March was National Ride2School Day, and more Victorian students feel confident riding to school with the Victorian Government’s Bike Ed program redeveloped to reach more kids.
 
The program – which supports people to develop the skills they need to ride safely and independently on roads and paths – will now reach students from grade 1 to year 8.
 
The Bike Ed program is an in-school program that teaches school students about safe riding behaviours, road rules, and riding in a shared environment.
 
The Bike Ed program can be delivered by school staff, members of the school community or external cycling education organisations who have undertaken accredited training to deliver the program.

While the Andrews Labor Government is getting on with building the schools of the future, 2022 marks a massive milestone – the 150th anniversary of the Victoria’s world-class public education system.

The Minister for Education visited Essendon Primary School, Melbourne’s oldest continuously-operating government school, to mark the anniversary of the Education Act 1872 and announce the next milestone in the state’s schools of the future – with all builders appointed to construct the 13 new Victorian schools opening in 2023.

Victoria was the first state in Australia – and one of the first in the world – to make education free, secular and compulsory to all children aged 6-15. Around 600 schools opened across the state in the five years following the passing of the Education Act – setting Victoria up for its future as the Education State.

The milestone will be marked with a range of activities across the year designed to commemorate the past, celebrate the present and imagine the future of education.

A dedicated Victorian Government website will feature the 483 original government schools from 1872 alongside every other government school established since, displaying a selection of digitally preserved historical records from the past 150 years including school history summaries, enrolment registers and photos.

There are undoubtedly thousands more historical gems yet to be uncovered to tell Victoria’s long and proud education history – and anyone with photos, documents or other vintage school treasures that can be added to the website is encouraged to email them to 150years@education.vic.gov.au to help build this digital time capsule.

More than 6,500 archive boxes have already been collected and digitised from schools around Victoria.

The Labor Government is delivering on the state’s 150-year record of being a leader in education, having invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades in just seven years – creating around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries.

Work to open 100 new schools by 2026 is ahead of schedule, with 62 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.

For more information on the 150 Years of Public Education milestone, visit vic.gov.au/150years.

Hundreds of thousands of Victorian students are now starting the school day with full stomachs, clearer minds and better moods, with the Andrews Labor Government’s School Breakfast Clubs program recently celebrating more than 20 million meals served.

This includes 737,522 meals served at Wyndham schools.
 
The School Breakfast Club program, which began in 2016, is part of our $58 million investment – delivered in partnership with Foodbank Victoria – to provide free, healthy food for students at 1,000 government schools.
 
Feedback from schools has shown the program has had benefits beyond making students happier and healthier – it has led to greater social outcomes for students and the school community, improved student engagement and concentration, strengthened staff-student relationships, enhanced social skills and better academic performance.
 
The program continued to support students with access to healthy food despite periods of remote learning during the pandemic.
 
Smaller breakfast clubs were run at school for students who were permitted to learn onsite, as well as ‘grab and go’ meal options for students to take home, food provided for families to collect from school sites to keep kids fed at home, with supplies even delivered to the homes of vulnerable students.
 
In addition to delivering healthy breakfasts to students in 1,000 primary, secondary and specialist schools, the program provides nutritious lunches and holiday food supplies to students in need – and delivers cooking classes for families from around 100 schools across the state. 
 
Nearly 40,000 School Holiday Supply packs have been distributed since the program began, with the 14-day food packs expanded last year to include lunch items in addition to healthy breakfasts and snacks.

For more information, please visit education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/breakfastclubs.aspx.

TAFE is the engine room of Victoria – giving Victorians great opportunities, boosting local industries and strengthening our economy.

And now we’re making it even easier to get the training you need for in-demand jobs.

More Victorians will have access to the skills they need for the job they want, with funding for an extra 10,000 places across the TAFE and training system for people looking to reskill after the pandemic and move into healthcare and other in-demand jobs.

Jobseekers can choose to study any VET course, including from the Andrews Labor Government’s signature Free TAFE list.

Victorians who already have another qualification – including a degree – can still access these training places at any TAFE across the state if they’re looking to reskill or change careers after the pandemic.

For more information, visit vic.gov.au/free-tafe.

500 jobseekers are being rapidly recruited and trained to support hospitality businesses facing current staff shortages.

As part of our $200 million Business Stimulus Package, $6.68 million in Jobs Victoria funding will support workers to be trained for hospitality jobs with small to medium sized businesses. 
 
Recruitment starts this week and runs until September, creating jobs for people whose employment has been hardest hit by the pandemic including women over 45, people from multicultural backgrounds, Aboriginal people, people with disability and young people. 
 
Workers will receive 5 days paid hospitality training such as food handling, barista and responsible service of alcohol training, uniforms and tools of the trade. 
 
They will also get wrap around support throughout the program including mentoring to ensure they are supported to succeed on the job and set up for a new career in the hospitality industry.

Jobs Victoria is partnering with the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and their Group Training Organisations (GTO) members that are coordinating training and placements of workers into jobs right across Victoria.

To make it easier for sole parents to find or get back into work, we are providing wage subsidies of up to $20,000 to businesses who employ or increase the working hours of single parents.

The wage subsidies are being supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund.

So, whether you’re a single parent looking for work or an employer needing more staff, register with Jobs Victoria today at jobs.vic.gov.au.

The Andrew's Labor Government has launched the Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy 2021-2026. 

The Strategy is a practical guide for councils in their engagement with Aboriginal communities and a foundation for developing local action plans with self-determination at their centre, in partnership with Traditional Owner groups.  

The Strategy was developed following a thorough consultation process over 20 months with Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal organisations, the broader Aboriginal community, local councils and local government peak bodies.

Elected Aboriginal local government representatives and Aboriginal staff employed within the local government sector also contributed to the strategy.  

The VALGS recognises the key role local government plays in supporting and implementing Victoria's ground-breaking self-determination reforms as established in the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2018-2023.

The Strategy emphasises the need for a collaborative partnership approach across local government, state government and Aboriginal communities. 

To support implementation of the Strategy, Minister Leane will shortly release a Ministerial Good Practice Guideline under the Local Government Act 2020.

The Guideline has been developed to assist Councils when engaging with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal Organisations and Community.  

To read the Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy and the Ministerial Good Practice Guideline and General Guidance for Councils Engaging with Aboriginal Victorians, visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-partnerships/victorian-aboriginal-and-local-government-strategy.  

To find out more about the State Government's commitment to First Peoples’ cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth, visit firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/.

This month saw the formal launch of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and Ceremonial Sitting at the Stolen Generations Marker in Fitzroy.
 
The Yoorrook Justice Commission is the first formal truth-telling process into injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria.

The five Yoorrook Commissioners will meet with Elders on Country across the state to discuss matters that the Commission should focus on in its inquiry.

The Commission has a broad mandate to investigate both contemporary and historical injustices experienced by Victoria’s First Peoples, across all areas of social, political and economic life.
 
The Andrews Labor Government is committed to transparent and genuine engagement with the Commission to help support its truth and justice objectives.
 
This engagement forms a central part of our work toward self-determination for First Peoples, because the best outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians are achieved when policies and programs are led and guided by the knowledge, wisdom, and expertise of Aboriginal people.
 
The Government is looking to the Commission to recommend fundamental reforms to our systems – to provide a blueprint for a new Victoria, based on true partnership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in our State.
 
More information about the Commission is available at yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/.
 

The Andrews Labor Government announced that it will deliver Australia’s first offshore wind farms, a plan with a strong plan to drive regional investment, slash emissions and create jobs.
 
The nation leading policy includes projects that will generate at least 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind online by 2032 – enough to power 1.5 million homes –  creating thousands of jobs in the process.

March marked one year since the Andrews Labor Government’s Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 came into effect.

We made more than 130 changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to make the system fairer for all Victorians.
  
Important changes are:

• No longer can people renting be evicted for no reason.
• Rent can only be increased once a year.
• We’ve banned bidding on a rental property.
• Pets are allowed.
• New minimum standards of cleanliness, security, and privacy. This includes working toilets, bathroom and kitchen facilities. Heating has to be provided. Door locks must work and windows have coverings and electrical safety has to be met.
• If the property isn’t up to minimum standards, renters can request an urgent repair from the rental provider.
• Renters have new rights to make modifications in their homes such as installing child safety devices, picture hooks on walls, replacing curtains, or increasing the energy efficiency of the house with new LED globes.
• Landlords may not unreasonably refuse planting of a vegetable or herb garden, painting, and installing security systems and flyscreens.
• Renters experiencing family violence can change or terminate their rental agreement and not be held liable for damages, by applying to VCAT.

To find out more visit consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/changes-to-renting-laws/guide-to-rental-law-changes.
 

The Andrews Labor Government has revealed striking designs for Australia’s largest art gallery – NGV Contemporary – which will position Victoria as a global arts destination and deliver thousands of jobs to the state.
 
Selected by an eminent jury, the winning design by Angelo Candalepas and Associates will boast 13,000 square metres of display space, crowned with a rooftop sculpture terrace, and restaurant all scheduled to open in 2028.
 
NGV Contemporary will provide unparalleled exhibition spaces, educational spaces, studios and laboratories for conservation of art work, will generate more than 11,000 jobs over the life of the project. 
 
NGV Contemporary is part of the Labor Government’s landmark $1.7 billion investment in the Melbourne Arts Precinct transformation.

The ‘Let’s Go’ campaign celebrates Victorian’s returning to the public transport network and our connection with others via public transport.

The campaign launched on television, radio and social media on Sunday 27 March and will run until late-May 2022.
 
Among the public transport workers featured in the campaign are Seymour V/Line conductor, Peter Adriessen and Yarra Trams platform attendant, Yanet Peralta. Metro Trains announcer, Anastasios Dimtsis (Taz) provides the voiceover.
 
It’s been great to see Victorians returning to the public transport network over the past few months but we’re encouraging more people to use the train, tram or bus to get around Melbourne and Victoria.
 
As Victorians return to public transport, they will see the benefits of the Andrews Labor Government’s $80 Billion Big Build.

We are providing passengers with more options to get them where they need to go, and since the start of the pandemic we have added an extra 550 weekly train services across the metropolitan and regional rail networks.
 
There are a range other measures in place across the public transport network to keep the network safe and clean for passengers.
 
Ridespace is giving passengers real-time information about how busy or quiet trains, platforms and stations are across the metropolitan train network.
 
Masks remain mandatory on public transport. Masks are also made available at key stations.
 
Additional cleaning is being carried out and there’s extra sanitisation at stops, stations and high-touch surfaces.
 
All of these measures provide more choice than ever for passengers across the public transport network to help them return to travel with confidence.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JE virus) has been detected in Victoria for the first time. JE virus is a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain caused by a virus spread to humans through mosquito bites.

The virus is mostly spread to humans from pigs via mosquito bites and cannot be spread from human to human. It also cannot be spread by eating pork. 

A comprehensive response across human and animal health sectors is underway in Victoria and to implement control measures.

Examples of this response include; vaccinating those at risk, surveillance of animals for JE virus, public health information, and mosquito testing and control activities.

Victorians are also being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites particularly when we are spending time outdoors.

The Andrews Labor Government is boosting support for Victoria’s three-quarters of a million unpaid carers who selflessly look after loved ones.
 
Through two funding opportunities for eligible organisations, unpaid carers will receive access to the support they need to take a well-earned break.
 
Additional respite funding of $10 million will help more carers take a break when they need it.
 
Applications are also now open for the $20 million Support for Carers Program, which will improve access to respite services for carers in rural and regional areas, and for those from diverse backgrounds.
 
Organisations can apply for one or both funding opportunities.
 
For further details, visit: 
dffh.vic.gov.au/news/two-new-funding-opportunities-increase-reach-support-carers.

The Victorian Disability Awards, now in their eleventh year, have a strong focus on recognising and honouring the achievements and contributions of individuals, teams and organisations that promote the rights and inclusion of people with disability.
 
We want to celebrate the achievements of people that lead the way in creating a fairer, more inclusive Victoria.

Victorians are encouraged to help recognise these achievements over the past 12 months in this year’s awards.
 
Nominations are open to individuals and groups – including people with disability, family members, volunteers and people working in the sector.
 
Nominations close on 3 May 2022.
 
To find out more or to nominate, visit dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-disability-awards.

The latest round of the Andrews Labor Government's Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open and more accessible than ever.
 
Parents can now apply for a $200 Get Active Kids voucher online which can then be redeemed at a registered provider – such as a local sporting club or organisation.
 
Additionally, families will be able to continue to claim reimbursement for expenses already incurred – as occurred in previous rounds.
 
Applications for this round will close at 5pm on 31 May.

To apply or for more information, visit getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/.