The world’s biggest annual festival for smartphone filmmakers has launched its 11^th year. And with the announcement of a venue partnership with the Sydney Opera House, entries are now extended until October 1st.

The hit film fest which regularly draws hundreds of entries from all over Australia and all over the Globe – from filmmakers of all ages – boasts more than $50,000 in prizes, across 5 categories.

This year’s categories are: The SF3 Gala Finals, SF3 Kids, Feature Films, SF3 Mini for films 3 mins or less (with a theme this year of ‘Breath’) and the second year of SF3 AI.

All Gala and SF3 Kids finalist films will screen the weekend Fri- 19 to Sun 22 Feb, 2026 at the Sydney Opera House. It is so exciting to bring films shot on the smallest screens to one of the world’s most iconic venues, the Sydney Opera House.

The Mini and Feature Film Finalists will screen at the Palace Chauvel the same week.

The huge celebration of smartphone cinema will include red-carpet premieres, a film sound masterclass with the team from Major Sponsor Rode, Networking Parties, Screenings and Award Ceremonies. There’s audience voting and the months leading up to the finals also offer free masterclasses on a range of creative and technical areas, including film adaptation, screenwriting and music composition.

There are 36 Awards including the major ‘gongs’: SF3 Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Screenplay, Best Feature Film and SF3 Best Kids Film. Special prizes again include the SF3 & Blackmagic Camera Award, the SF3 & Spineless Wonders Best Adaptation Award, SF3 First Nations Award, the SF3 & WIFT Best Female Creative Award. 

The best young dairy cattle judges in Australia have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia and will compete in the national finals in September.

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted by the SA Country Shows at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025 and includes paraders (beef and dairy cattle), young Judges (beef and dairy cattle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry), Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

The National Championships brings together the best of the best in rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence. Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state will gather to compete in the annual competition. 

Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions, with the national championships held in a different location each year. 

The prestigious competition highlights the reach and rewards of agricultural shows, from connecting communities to driving growth and celebrating success. 

Meet the six finalists in the Vytelle Dairy Cattle Judging National Championships:

NEW SOUTH WALES | Rhylan Russell, 18, Bega

Rhylan Russell’s family has been involved in dairy agriculture for over five generations, milking Guernsey and Holstein cows. Having completed his certificate 3 in dairy farming, Rhylan is a full-time dairy farmer – and he’s on a mission to make three very special people proud when he takes to the ring in Adelaide. 

“It’s awesome to see the youth of the industry getting involved and passionate about showing, not just dairy farming in general. Winning the state final at Sydney Royal Easter Show this year was definitely an awesome moment. 

“But honestly, the best part of any show for me is just hanging out with the family, doing something we all love. Nothing beats those moments – that’s what really sticks with you. I want to thank my mum and dad for where I am today in this industry. They’ve been a huge supporter and encouragement of mine, but the main person I want to and need to thank is my Pop, Brian Russell. He’s the main reason I have the passion for this industry that I do and I hope that I make him proud.”

WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Grace Henderson, 18, Esperance

Grace began showing cattle at the ripe age of five, marching into the ring with a heifer named Jewel Candy. The 18-year-old works at the Shade River Dairy farm in Mardella, milking around 300 Holstein – Friesians. Grace is working towards a certificate 4 in dairy productions and a full qualification in artificial insemination to fulfil her goal of establishing her own business. 

“I made a lot of friends and memories at these shows, and would often place well in my parader competitions, usually going through to our state finals. 

“I am excited for this year’s Perth Royal as I also qualified for the beef state junior judging competition, and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to learn something new from not just that experience but also from my experience at the Adelaide Royal national finals. 

“Down the track I’d like to give back to the younger generation by being an active member of the WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp, so that others can learn about the cattle industry no matter their background.” 

VICTORIA | Luke Gardiner, 20, Nar Nar Goon, Gippsland

Luke is studying agriculture at the University of Melbourne and has grown up on a stud dairy farm, where his interest in breeding and showing cattle began. He’s developed a strong interest in judging, inspired by his dad John Gardiner, who Luke says taught him everything he knows about judging and dairy cattle. 

A standout show moment for Luke came at the 2025 International Dairy Week, where he part-owned the Supreme Intermediate and Grand Champion in the Holstein Show, View Fort Lambda Butter. 

He purchased a half share in her after last year’s show, making the win especially rewarding.

“I competed in Young Judges once two years ago where I came third and this year was my second time competing. I started competing because I love judging and aspire to judge major shows across Australia and the world.”

QUEENSLAND | Zoe O’Neill, 23, Nambour

Zoe began showing cattle at 12-years-old, getting her start through her local high school before going on to represent several local farms in the show ring. 

By 15, she had already started a traineeship in agriculture, and later went on to complete an apprenticeship as a heavy diesel mechanic – all while continuing to work on farms. 

For Zoe, nothing beats the atmosphere and community spirit of the Maleny Show.

TASMANIA | William Dudfield, 22, Somerset

Will has been part of the show ring since he was three years old, and joined paraders competitions at just nine. 

Growing up on a dairy farm sparked his love for cattle, and even though he now works in civil construction, showing remains a big part of his life. 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA | Chris Thompson, 19, Urrbrae

Chris grew up on a small family property, started showing dairy cattle through school and soon developed an interest that led him to establish his own Holstein and Jersey stud. 

Throughout high school, Chris gained hands-on experience working on farms, and now in his first year at the University of Adelaide, he continues to show cattle at most South Australian events and some in Victoria. 

His involvement in Young Judges began at smaller country shows and quickly progressed – placing third at Adelaide Show one year and taking out the top spot the next.

Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia – the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy – describes the competition as a celebration of emerging talent in livestock judging across the country.

“This is an incredibly prestigious event, and earning a spot in the nationals is highly sought after,” Jac said.

“These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia’s food and fibre industries. The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best.”

The Dairy Cattle Judging final is sponsored by Vytelle, a precision livestock company reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimise their herds. 

Vytelle’s Regional Director Australia/New Zealand, Andrew Donoghue, said the company is proud to support the event.

“Vytelle is focused on the future of beef and dairy sustainability and we’re helping producers make faster, more accurate genetic progress. These young competitors represent the future of our industry – curious, capable and committed to driving innovation in the dairy sector,” he said.

The Dairy Cattle Judging final will be held at 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 3. 

The best young poultry judges in Australia have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia and will compete in the prestigious national finals this September.

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted by the SA Country Shows at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025 and includes young judges (beef and dairy cattle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry), paraders (beef and dairy cattle), Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

The National Championships brings together the best of the best in rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence with young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 gathering to compete in the annual competition. 

Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions, and national championships held in a different location each year. The prestigious competitions highlight the reach and rewards of agricultural shows, from connecting communities to driving growth and celebrating success. 

Meet the four finalists in the Poultry Young Judges final:

VICTORIA | Josh Hancock, 20, Merbein

Josh Hancock’s family has been involved in agricultural shows for four generations. 

During the week he works in shed construction but come the weekend, he shows under the name ‘Ducknuts Waterfowl’ and is a provisional Judge on the Victorian Poultry Judges list. 

Josh’s show highlight is winning Champion Bird of Show at the Adelaide Royal in 2018, but says Mildura Show holds a special place in his heart thanks to its significance for his family over so many generations. 

“I started competing in the Young Judges in 2023 when I was asked by several highly respected people in the Victorian poultry world to have a go because they said I would gain a lot from the experience. Having showed birds for most of my life it was the next step. From this, I have now done my judging assessment for waterfowl and gained confidence in public speaking.”

SOUTH AUSTRALIA | Eddie Lock, 17, Naracoorte

Year 12 student Eddie Lock is no stranger to the show ring – he’s stewarded at Royal Adelaide Show in the pigeon section, been a convenor at Naracoorte Show for poultry and pigeon competitions, and is a long-time competitor at Naracoorte Show. 

“I started competing in the judging competition three years ago because I loved showing chooks and was keen to practice and improve my judging skills. My proudest moment was winning Champion Junior Poultry at Royal Adelaide Show in 2022.”

WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Thomas Spencer, 23, Muchea

Thomas has been hooked on the show ring for 16 years, showing poultry and stud cattle at the Perth Royal Show and beyond.

Running a Hereford stud and working with Nutrien Livestock in Goomalling, he loves the mix of competition, camaraderie, and the chance to test his skills.

“My grandmother, Maureen, was born into a show family. She was showing horses over 80 years ago at the Perth Royal Show, and other agricultural shows like the Moora Show, so I was lucky that this was a passion she shared with me. It helped make my passion for poultry and stud cattle a reality. I’ve attended the Moora Show every year since she encouraged me to attend 16 years ago.”

NSW SOUTH WALES | Bryson Lee, 17, Maclean

Bryson is a Year 11 student from Maclean High School with a love for agriculture shaped by life on his family’s beef cattle property.

From a young age he’s been involved in showing poultry, riding horses, and competing in cattle events. 

A junior member of the Maclean Show Society and part of his school’s successful cattle show team, Bryson has made his mark across local shows – especially in poultry judging. 

He won junior judging at the North Coast National two years running and was recently crowned Champion Junior Poultry Judge at the Sydney Royal. 

“I am the fourth generation involved in showing poultry in my family. My great grandfather, my grandfather and my father have all successfully shown and judged poultry their whole lives. My grandfather, Peter Lee, and my father, Ashley Lee, have both mentored me with my breeding and judging, and there are also many other poultry breeders that have helped me along the way.”

Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia – the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy – describes the competition as a celebration of emerging talent in livestock judging across the country.

“This is an incredibly prestigious event, and earning a spot in the nationals is highly sought after,” Jac said.

“These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia’s food and fibre industries. The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best.”

The Poultry Young Judges final will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, September 2. 

Dementia Australia has launched its 2025 Diversity Small Grant program to support community organisations to build awareness and understanding of dementia in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.  

Applications are now open for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse organisations and community groups to apply for up to $30,000 in funding for activities to create awareness and improved understanding about dementia in their communities. 

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the 2025 Diversity Small Grant program comes at a time when dementia prevalence rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are approximately 3-5 times higher than that of the general Australian population and at least 28 per cent of people living with dementia in Australia were born in a non-English speaking country. 

“Dementia Australia’s 2025 Diversity Small Grant program is part of our commitment to facilitating equity of access to dementia information and support,” Professor Buchanan said.  

“Following unprecedented demand and more than 200 applications in 2024, we are proud to offer the Diversity Small Grant program for a second year.”  

The 2024 inaugural Diversity Small Grant program saw Dementia Australia award more than $320,000 to 11 Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse organisations and groups from across the country.  

Diversity Small Grant recipient and Philippine Educational Theatre Artists of Western Australia Director Mr Benito Chan is strongly encouraging others to apply after his organisation was able to use funding to produce a play which aimed to raise awareness of dementia within the Filipino community.  
 
“In our play “The Moon and the Bakunawa”, I wanted to pay tribute to my mother who lived with vascular dementia,” Mr Chan said.  

“I wrote this play to help raise awareness of dementia and it was funded by a Dementia Australia Diversity Small Grant awarded last year. The grant helped us put on shows in both Perth and Sydney and it was a creative way to try and build greater understanding of dementia within our community.”  

Alongside up to $30,000 in funding, successful recipients will receive a complimentary dementia education session as well as ongoing support and guidance from Dementia Australia.  

The Diversity Small Grant program is a Dementia Australia initiative funded by the Australian Federal Government.  

Applications are open now and close Wednesday 13 August 2025. For more information and to apply visit dementia.org.au/diversitygrants 

The state government is rolling out gambling reforms, with a trial of mandatory account-based play to kick off at select venues from September.

Following ongoing consultation with industry and stakeholders, the trial will run across all 43 venues with gaming machines in Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat from September to November.

People gambling at these venues will need to use a YourPlay card to play electronic gaming machines and set loss limits – helping put the power back into the hands of patrons and prevent money laundering. Cards can be obtained on-the-spot in venues.

Mandatory account-based play will offer people more control over their gambling habits and can provide them with greater insight into how much they spend gambling.

Venues and their staff will be supported throughout the trial period with staff training, communication materials and in-venue support.

The trial builds on the government’s existing gambling reforms, including:

• Mandatory closure periods from 4am to 10am for gaming areas in all Victorian hotels and clubs
• Slowing spin rates of new gaming machines
• Limiting EFTPOS cash withdrawals to $500 per card in 24 hours
• Capping the number of gaming machines in the state at the current level until 2042
• Prohibiting the advertising or operation of cheque cashing services in or around gaming venues
• Introducing a new code of conduct to strengthen the obligations of venue operators to better respond to suspected problem gambling.

These reforms also build on the nation-leading protections introduced at Crown and the establishment of the state’s tough regulator – the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

Council to Homeless Persons has welcomed the announcement of more than one-thousand new social homes to be built in Victoria, and called for this to be the start of an ongoing social housing building blitz.

The State Government’s commitment to build 1,043 homes across Victoria through its Social Housing Growth Fund follows a joint commitment by the Victorian and Federal Governments earlier this month to fund construction of more than 1,200 social homes through the second round of the Housing Australia Future Fund. 

“Two-thousand new social homes greenlit this month is a fantastic step, but this must be just the start if the Government is taking Victoria’s homelessness crisis seriously,” Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said. 

“We have 66,000 applicants languishing on Victoria’s social housing waitlist right now. Women and children are sleeping in their cars at night, living in fear. And that is completely unacceptable.

“The State Government’s own infrastructure adviser, Infrastructure Victoria, says the government can and should be building 4,000 new social homes every year for the next 15 years, so let’s get started,” Deborah Di Natale said.   

One third of Australians seeking homelessness assistance are in Victoria, yet the state has the lowest proportion of social housing.

Council to Homeless Persons has joined other community peak organisations in calling for the Victorian Government to build 7,990 new social homes each year for the next decade in order to reach the national average of social housing.

“The state’s homelessness crisis is only going to get worse unless the government commits to a social housing building blitz of this scale. 

“No one should be facing homelessness in this state. We can end it but, to do so, we need a strong commitment to provide the social housing Victoria needs,” Deborah Di Natale said. 

Many farms are homes as well as workplaces, and we all have a part to play in improving farm safety, health and wellbeing.
Agriculture Victoria Director Rural Assistance, People and Planning Clare Purcell said despite employing only 2% of working Victorians, the agriculture sector accounts for 14% of all workplace fatalities. On average, 2 people are injured on Victorian farms every day.
‘We all have a role to play in making farm safety a priority, not just for those working the land, but for everyone who lives, works and visits the farm.
‘As a part of the Farming Safe and Well program, we have spoken to experts on farm safety for a new podcast season.
‘Our latest AgVic Talk season, Farming Safe and Well, focuses on the many aspects that make up farm safety, from fatigue management, safe livestock handling, supporting youth mental health and an inclusive approach to farming with a disability.
‘The stories shared are personal and important, covering vital elements of farm safety such as safe shearing practices through to topics that may be hidden from view like supporting staff members with dyslexia.
‘This podcast season hopes to foster discussions on the high-risk aspects of the rewarding business of farming, emphasising the importance of raising awareness, sharing stories, and building a culture of safety.’
In one episode, we hear from experts Joel Haberfield and Peter Miller as they discuss the critical importance of safe livestock handling during loading and unloading processes. Their insights highlight the importance of improving safety standards in the agricultural sector, to protect both workers and animals.
In another, Samantha Pritchard from People in Paddocks and Sheree Henderson, a farmer from north west Victoria, share insights about how to make farm safety inductions more effective and inclusive.
‘Creating a culture of safety on farms now and into the future is a shared responsibility to ensure safety is woven into everyday farm operations, from decision making through to daily practices.’
You can subscribe and listen to Farming Safe and Well on AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts:
• Follow AgVic Talk on Spotify
• Follow AgVic Talk on Apple Podcasts
Find out more and listen to other AgVic Talk episodes at agriculture.vic.gov.au/agvictalk
Find out more about Agriculture Victoria’s work on farm safety on our website.
For more information about drought support call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought

Since its official opening on 21 June 2024, The Mechanics Trentham has become a vibrant hub of activity and connection for the Trentham and broader Hepburn Shire communities. 

Bradley Thomas, CEO, said that the newly redeveloped library and community facility has been embraced by locals and visitors, thanks to a better floorplan, expanded library collection, and light-filled, welcoming spaces.  

“The modern, flexible design has allowed existing programs to flourish while enabling the introduction of new digital literacy initiatives,” said Mr Thomas. 

In its first year, The Mechanics Trentham has delivered the following results: 

• Library visitation has grown by 170 per cent, with average quarterly visits rising from 943 to 1,611. 

• Library membership is up by 8 per cent, increasing from 554 to 687 members. 

• Library borrowings have increased by 20 per cent, with 3,574 items loaned since reopening. 

• Library program attendance has increased by 31 per cent. 

Council is also looking forward to the upcoming rollout of Open Access Libraries at The Trentham Mechanics later this year, which will allow inducted members to use library spaces outside of staffed hours. Open Access will also be introduced at The Warehouse – Clunes this year, and next year at Creswick Hub and Daylesford Library.  

Further highlights from the past 12 months at the Mechanics Trentham include: 

• A 410 per cent increase in social and community group bookings, totalling 2,103 hours of use. 

• 490 bookings were recorded in the past year, with 338 future bookings already confirmed. 

• The Loddon River Room emerged as the most popular space, with 153 bookings. 

• Events hosted have included digital literacy sessions, emergency services talks, table tennis, karate classes, trivia nights, dance fitness, Mahjong games, old-time dances, and more. 

The delivery of The Mechanics Trentham was made possible by grants of $3.5 million from the Victorian Government provided through its Regional Infrastructure Fund and $500,000 through the Living Libraries Program, and an additional $1.1 million from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure grant. Council contributed $2.35 million to this important project. 

Bookings at the facility can be made at The Mechanics Trentham. 

Communities across Melbourne’s west will have more open space for sport and after-school events with more schools to open up their fields and facilities once class is out for the day.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has announced the state government is supporting a pilot scheme aimed at boosting the use of public spaces like ovals and gyms in recently opened western suburbs schools.

Kicking off from today, the pilot will mean more valuable space for after school activities like local sports, language and music classes and other community-run extracurricular activities.

The $1.4 million investment will fund a dedicated support team to help the schools in facilitating community use of their spaces, coordinating community outreach and managing associated administration.

Support would include promoting and identifying opportunities for community groups, negotiating and managing agreements and helping arrange additional cleaning of school facilities.

The boosted amount open space will give more Victorians a space to be active and help more people benefit from the Labor Government’s massive investment in new schools and infrastructure.

Out of Victoria’s 1,580 government schools, two-thirds currently share their grounds for informal use by the community. 

Regional trains are back in service sooner with a new state-of-the-art biowash now open, as work continues on a major upgrade of the South Dynon Train Maintenance Facility.

Stage 1 of the upgrade was completed in early 2024 and included improving maintenance roads, upgrading power to the site, new CCTV and lighting to make it safer and new tracks for more efficient train movements.

The biowash is one of two across the regional network and is a critical part of maintenance operations at South Dynon to enable V/Line trains to return to service sooner to run passenger services.

Previously, trains requiring biowashing shared the standard train wash at the South Dynon facility. The new standalone biowash will reduce the time taken to biowash a three-carriage unit, with capacity to wash five trains a day.

Biowash facilities are used to clean trains after animal strikes occur, with V/Line experiencing a higher-than-normal number of animal strikes in recent months, resulting in more trains needing to be bio-washed and in some cases, requiring maintenance due to damage.

The South Dynon Train Maintenance Facility was purpose built in 1961 to service the state’s trains and is being upgraded to meet growing demand, as more VLocity trains from this fleet come into service.

Stage 2 of the South Dynon Train Maintenance Facility Upgrade will include a new wastewater treatment plant, upgraded train wash and refuelling facilities, track reconfiguration, and new staffing and security infrastructure. An under-floor wheel lathe is also being installed at the Alstom-operated facility to maintain the wheels of V/Line trains.

A virtual women’s health clinic is now open to all Victorian women and girls of any age – offering free, expert medical advice, treatment and care for a range of women’s health needs.
For women and girls in Macedon, the new virtual clinic will mean that they can access the vital health services they need from the comfort of their own home.
Led by specialist nurses, the clinic can provide medical advice remotely via telehealth, either online or on the phone – including endometriosis and pelvic pain care, menstrual health, cervical screening, menopause care, breast health care and abortion.
Women in regional and remote Victoria will benefit the most – with services like contraception and abortion traditionally harder to access due to distance from major towns. The virtual clinic will make a massive difference for women in Macedon, cutting transport time and travel costs when it comes to accessing healthcare.
Operated in partnership with community health organisation EACH, it will reduce the barriers and delays in accessing care, helping to avoid detrimental impacts on a woman’s health, their quality of life and the ability to participate in school and employment.
The team of nurses will deliver an initial health assessment and some treatment, while patients can also be connected with a GP or get referred to a relevant health practitioner as close to home as possible.
In addition to treating immediate health needs, referrals can also be made to various mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, and family violence community support services.

Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne has visited the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to announce the successful recipients in the latest round of the Medical Equipment Replacement Program (MERP). The grant program provides funding to hospitals to upgrade vital medical imaging and surgical equipment.

As part of the latest round, eight health services will share in $35 million for a total of 10 projects.

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre will upgrade its Diagnostic Computer Tomography Unit – a critical piece of equipment that can identify lung cancer in eligible, asymptomatic, high-risk patients.

The Royal Children’s Hospital will upgrade an ultrasonic aspirator to support young patients receiving liver transplants and epilepsy surgery.

Alfred Health will upgrade and install two major pieces of equipment – a wide bore MRI scanner with bariatric capability will provide faster scans to more patients and a new stereotactic navigation system will support the work of the neurosurgery team when treating complex conditions such as brain cancer, epilepsy, and trauma injuries.

Monash Health will upgrade both its neurosurgical microscope and angiography system, supporting safer, more precise surgery capabilities

Other health services receiving funding from this round includes Austin Health for a PET/CT Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital for an Ear Nose and Throat Surgical Navigation System, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital for a new CT scanner.

Grampians Health will receive funding for a new Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT) unit – to assist cardiac and oncology patients with treatment, boosting nuclear medicine in the region.

The state government is backing the local artists and creative workers who are the lifeblood of the state’s $41 billion creative industries sector, through the latest round of the Creative Projects Fund.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas has announced that Hepburn Shire artists Marcelle Bradbeer, Bek Saltmarsh, Aleks Danko and Irene Holub are among 115 recipients that will share in more than $1.5 million in grants to support diverse projects spanning design, dance, literature, film, fashion, visual arts and music, which will create more than 1,000 job opportunities for Victorians.
• Fine art photographer Marcelle Bradbeer has received an Uncovering Talent grant that will support the project Climate Adaptation Photography Project: Fish Factory Residency & Exhibition. This will support Marcelle to participate in a residency at Fish Factory in Iceland to document climate-adaptive living through photography. The project will culminate in an exhibition in Victoria.
• Bek Saltmarsh has received an Uncovering Talent grant to support Un-weaving Uniformity, a project that seeks to reclaim and subvert the visual language of school uniform, by recreating its plaid using a combination of traditional Aboriginal weaving techniques and loom weaving.
• Aleks Danko has received a Projects grant to support material and production costs for A(GAP)E – A Verklempt Snare exhibition at McClelland Sculpture Park+ Gallery in 2026.
• Irene Holub has received a Projects grant to support producing and performing Manifesto of Silences – 1880, an experimental opera exploring the impact of the 1881 Milan Conference on the deaf community, engaging diverse audiences and driving innovation in performance
The Creative Projects Fund supports Victorian artists, creative collectives and small businesses to bring their projects to life. Grants back the development of new creative work, projects that drive innovation, professional development and career-making opportunities, and initiatives to reach new audiences and markets.

The state government is delivering more than 1000 new social homes across the state thanks to a partnership with community housing providers – providing more Victorians with safe and secure housing.

Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing has visited St Albans where 90 new social homes are underway as part of a $369 million investment to help build and operate more than 1,000 new homes.

The St Albans development, managed by Evolve Housing, will provide one and two-bedroom homes just minutes from Keilor Plains Station and close to local primary and secondary schools, ensuring residents are connected to transport, education and community services.

These homes form part of the 1,043 new social homes that will be built right across Victoria, including 256 homes in Greater Dandenong, 169 homes in Greater Geelong, 90 homes in Bayside, 68 homes in Port Phillip, 67 homes in Hobsons Bay, and 65 homes in Ballarat.

The Social Housing Growth Fund provides funding for not-for-profit community housing organisations to help build and operate social housing for 30 years. By partnering with these organisations, the Labor Government is supporting more Victorians into safe, secure, and modern long-term housing.

All 1,043 of these homes will go to Victorians on the social housing register – including people escaping family violence, people sleeping rough, and First Nations Victorians.

Every new home will be modern, energy-efficient and built to last – meaning renters will stay warm in winter, cool in summer, and save on power bills.

Bendigo is once again setting the standard for regional cultural events with the exclusive Frida Kahlo: In her own image at the Bendigo Art Gallery drawing more than 100,000 domestic and international visitors.

Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Gayle Tierney has announced that the exhibition – the first time this collection has been shown in Australia – drew 105,135 people to experience artworks, photographs and personal belongings of one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.

More than 90 per cent of visitors came from outside Bendigo, with local hotels, restaurants and tourism operators reporting increased bookings and activity throughout the season – delivering a major local economic boost and reinforcing Victoria’s place as Australia’s cultural powerhouse.

The exhibition was secured by the state government and developed by Bendigo Art Gallery in partnership with Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico and presented exclusively in Bendigo.

It explored the connection between Kahlo’s personal style, her revolutionary artwork, and the striking images that made her a global icon.

Bendigo Art Gallery has built a reputation as one of Australia’s leading cultural institutions, with past blockbusters including Elvis: Direct from Graceland, Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits and Grace Kelly: Style Icon.

Since 2012, these exhibitions have brought more than 688,000 visitors to the region and generated more than $108 million in economic impact for Greater Bendigo.