HELPING FAMILIES IN MACEDON
The Allan Labor Government’s first Budget is dedicated to helping families in Macedon.
Whether it’s helping with the cost of living, making sure our kids can be their best, record funding for our healthcare system or continuing to invest in more of the services families rely on – the Victorian Budget 2024/25 invests in our community.
With the current cost of living, covering supplies and extracurricular activities can be hard on families doing it tough. Uniforms, camps and excursions – it all adds up.
That’s why we are providing a one-off School Saving Bonus to help cover the costs. This $400 bonus will help make sure our kids have everything they need for the school day, supporting families with children at government schools and families at our non-government schools who need it most.
Dedicated to helping cover the cost of learning essentials and the extracurriculars that make school fun – we’ll work with schools to make it available for the start of the 2025 school year.
We’re also tripling our free Glasses for Kids program – making sure even more young Victorians can be their best in the classroom, and beyond. Having already helped 34,000 kids across our state – this investment will help 74,000 more, providing free vision screening and prescription glasses for students who need it.
And because we know that learning isn’t limited to the classroom, we’re investing $6 million to extend our Get Active Kids vouchers – providing up to $200 to help eligible families with the cost of sporting club registration, uniforms and equipment.
Sport is such a big part of our community, helping local families stay active. That's why this Budget invests $400,000 to upgrade Lions Park and deliver a local skate park in Romsey – ensuring local families have great spaces to come together.
Last year, our Free Kinder program saved around 140 000 families up to $2,500 in fees, helping with the cost of living and ensuring cost was not a barrier to participation.
This year’s Budget continues this investment with an additional $129 million to continue delivering Free Kinder and the statewide rollout of Three-Year-Old Kinder.
An extra $19 million will deliver new Building Blocks grants – enabling kinders to renovate and upgrade early learning facilities. From expanding classrooms to funding native gardens, upgrading technology or transforming outdoor play spaces, these projects are an investment in our youngest learners.
This Budget is helping students in Macedon to develop advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and problem-solving skills, through Tech Schools.
A $6 million investment will reach more country students via regional STEM camps and the delivery of Tech School programs through remote and flexible learning, expanding opportunities for skill building.
This Budget provides $185 million to bolster our state’s bushfire prevention and response.
Locally, this investment includes new CFA pumpers for local firies and volunteers, helping keep our community safe.
Each investment is an investment in the people of Macedon.
Because this is a Budget – and a Government – dedicated to helping families.
Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“This Budget will make a real difference to local families. Our $400 School Saving Bonus will help cover the costs of kids’ uniforms and activities – giving families one less thing to worry about.”
“We love our local parks. The Allan Labor Government is making them even better, with the revitalisation of Lions Park and delivery of skate park in Romsey for our local families to enjoy."
