Putting patients first in macedon
The Andrews Labor Government is putting patients first in Macedon.
Across our nation – and around the world – the pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on health systems. From a sharp increase of critical COVID patients to disrupted care, resulting in longer hospital recovery time, the last two years have really knocked our health system around.
When we came to government, we put an end to the war on our paramedics. We took ambulance response times from the worst in our history to the best. Now – just like we did before – we’ll ease the pandemic pressure on our hospitals and our healthcare workers.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest over $12 billion to put patients first, with a Pandemic Repair Plan for more staff, better hospitals and first-class care.
Our healthcare workers have been on the frontline of this pandemic, and we know how important it is that we support them into the future.
We’re backing our healthcare workers with training and the extra pair of helping hands they need, so they can give you the very best care.
That’s why the Budget is delivering funding to train and hire up to 7,000 new healthcare workers, including 5,000 nurses.
We’ll provide 1,125 new Registered Undergraduate Nursing Positions and 75 new Registered Undergraduate Student of Midwifery roles over the next two years, and we’re also recruiting up to 2,000 ex-pat and international healthcare workers through a global workforce recruitment drive.
Right around the nation, demand for emergency services is at an all-time high. Our Triple Zero call-takers and dispatchers are dealing with unprecedented call volumes. But when you call for an ambulance, every Victorian should have the confidence one will arrive. That’s why we’re delivering another 90 paramedics – which means we’ve added 790 extra paramedics to the workforce since we came to government.
And to help our frontline workers reach Victorians who need help faster, we’re investing $333 million to add nearly 400 new staff to increase Triple Zero call-taking and dispatch capacity for Triple Zero services, including ambulances, and training more operators to allocate calls across the state.
This Budget invests in regional health – because regional Victorians deserve the same level of care as people in Melbourne. At the centre of the plan is a $300m injection to upgrade regional hospitals and healthcare facilities in every corner of our state, the largest Regional Health and Infrastructure Fund boost since it was created by the Andrews Labor Government.
We’re also providing $9 million to regional women’s health services and a further $11.5 million to deliver group parenting sessions to support families with children struggling with their mental health. Because no matter where you live, every Victorian and their family deserves great healthcare.
As we roll-out our Pandemic Repair Plan to make sure people in Macedon get the care they deserve, we’re also getting on with delivering the schools, roads and public transport services they rely on.
Thousands of Victorians rely on their local bus to get them to work, school and around their community. Now, thanks to the investment in this Budget, Victorians will get a smarter, faster and more reliable bus network including two new town routes in Gisborne and a new school town bus service for local kids – so Victorians spend less time waiting at the bus stop and more time at home with family and friends.
We’re also building the roads we need now, as well as future proofing our road network by investing in planning for our transport needs. In Woodend, the Budget kicks off work to improve the High Street and Urquhart Street intersection with $500,000 for planning and development.
The Andrews Labor Government will keep delivering improvements to our public transport network, with $1.6 million to upgrade Woodend Station and add in a new heated waiting area to keep locals warm on cold winter mornings.
To make sure every young Victorian gets the education they need for the career they want, the new VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate will replace VCAL, offering students more choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing students to jump into further study, training at TAFE or work as soon as they leave school.
The VCAL reforms will save many Victorian families up to $1,000 by cutting out-of-pocket costs, with students no longer having to pay for essential learning materials for VET studies.
Every parent worries whether their child will be ready for school – but with an extra year of kinder, and all the learning and play that brings – we’ll make sure they are. Under the Andrews Labor Government, every Victorian child can get a good quality early education in the early years that prepares them for a strong and successful future, with up to 15 hours of free three-year-old kinder.
We know that many Victorians are still paying too much for their energy bills – that’s why we’re stepping in to help families get the best deal. We’re providing a once-off $250 payment for all Victorian households that use the Victorian Energy Compare (VEC) website – the Victorian Government’s independent price comparator website – to search for the cheapest electricity plan that suits their needs.
With this Budget, we’re getting on with delivering for all Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"This Budget includes the biggest ever boost to funding to upgrade local hospitals and health services – because every regional Victorian deserves the same level of care as people in the city."
"We’re making it easier for locals to get around across Macedon, investing in new bus services for Gisborne and improving safety and comfort on locals’ daily commute."
"There has never been a better time to join the heathcare sector. This budget will support our nurses, midwives and ambos locally and across the state. This is a budget that is putting patients first."
