February 15th, 2026Helping the Latrobe Valley attract key workers

The state government is helping the Latrobe Valley attract the key workers it needs to enable greater community access to essential health and aged care services, with new worker housing in Newborough completed.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing represented Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes during last week’s official opening of Latrobe Valley Village’s new worker accommodation, delivered through the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund.

Latrobe Valley Village is a vital, trusted residential and aged care facility in Newborough and Moe that supports elderly Victorians and their carers to achieve positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

Works delivered at the Newborough site have transformed a disused wing of the company’s existing aged care facility into seven new self-contained units for workers and their families. Now known as ‘Cedar Workstay’, the wing features a new communal kitchen and laundry facilities for staff.

Cedar Workstay will attract skilled workers able to provide much-needed services for the Latrobe Valley community, which has an ageing population that had previously outpaced skilled worker availability.

Construction supported multiple jobs across a range of industries, with 45 workers and 15 businesses directly benefiting in addition to the seven professional aged care workers who now call Newborough’s newest units home.

Across the region healthcare providers are leveraging the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund to attract workers, including Bairnsdale District Health, Omeo District Health and Bayside Health.

The Government is also investing $5 million from its Council Support Package to help deliver a range of activities across the Latrobe Valley, such as sporting and streetscape upgrades, new community and volunteer programs, improved internet access and support for Aboriginal-owned businesses.