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With the release recently of State and Federal Budgets, and the uncertain economic forecasts, it's important to understand what support the Victorian Government will provide.
Overview:
Aged Care
- Increase in funding of 2.1% in real terms (unlikely to keep pace with the increasing number of older people)
- Victoria will continue to match the Commonwealth contribution to the Home and Community Care program. (However, the demand for HACC services and supports is still far greater than availability)
Disability
- Additional 340 Individual Support Packages will be available to people with a disability who live at home and will help with access day programs and other community supports.
- $23.9 million over four years to provide 1000 additional early intervention places for children with a disability and $3.3 million over four years for the kindergarten support program. (However, additional support funding barely keeps up with CPI and population growth)
- One-off funding of $5 million will expand the Aids and Equipment program.
- Around $1 million per year to expand support for people with Aquired Brain Injury.
- Currently, a lack of funding for 1370 people with disabilities in urgent need of supported accommodation.
Mental Health
- A new funding program will provide a State wide information and referral service which will operate 24/7. This should make it easier for people with mental health problems and their families to access the help they need.
- $28 million over four years will be invested in Prevention and Recovery Care including the roll out of Step-up, Step-down services.
- Expansion of the Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) initiative will include families with drug and alcohol problems.
- Additional funding to support the Victorian Mental Health Reform Strategy which is due to be completed this year.
Other
- Energy and Water concessions for Victorians on low incomes or with certain medical conditions will continue to increase.
- Allocation of funds ($2.5 million over four years) to run Carers Reward Card that will give Carers discounts on some goods and servcices. The Government is also going to establish a new office for the Community Sector to help strengthen community organisations.
With the current problems that families are facing due to increases in the cost of living, the Victorian Government still has some way to go in supporting to most vunerable in the community.
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