Local unpaid carers who selflessly support their loved ones will receive more support from the Victorian Government to help care for their own wellbeing.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas announced The Romsey Neighbourhood House would receive $20,228 for local physical, emotional and social support for carers of people with aging and/or dementia issues, disability, chronic illness, mental health issues living in Romsey through the Neighbourhood House’s Mind Health Hub offering telehealth services and mental health support to carers to manage emotional wellbeing and stress.
PS My Family Matters will receive $38,000 to broaden the existing peer support network for carers in the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury and to provide post pandemic funds to carers to assist with capacity building and to help them with their everyday needs. This will include recruiting peer support volunteers, developing a social media campaign, providing mental health first aid training, developing a well-being and self-care program and developing a ‘Coffee for Carers’ and ‘Pizza for Carers’ in new locations.
The announcement was made as part of Carers Week, which ran from October 10-16.
The funding is part of than $2.6 million for organisations across Victoria to support carers to reconnect when it’s safe to do so through activities like morning teas, bushwalks and virtual cooking classes – as well as information sessions and online forums to support carers from multicultural background to access the right supports.
Across Victoria, more than 736,000 carers give their time and effort to look after a family member or friend who needs them, whether due to chronic disease, mental illness, disability or old age.
Fifty-six organisations will receive grants totalling $1.75 million through the Supporting Carers Locally Grants Program. The grants will help carers access peer support, community support programs and other tailored resources supporting their physical and mental health, and help them connect with family, friends and other carers.
Additionally, five organisations will share in $917,000 through the Statewide Partnership Grants Program, which will support partnerships between carer organisations and other community support organisations to deliver innovative projects that benefit carers across the state.
The five recipient organisations are Little Dreamers, Different Journeys, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Financial Counselling Victoria and Tandem.
Respite is also available to carers through the Support for Carers program, which is accessible during lockdown. The full list of Supporting Carers Locally Grants Program recipients can be found at: vic.gov.au/grants-benefit-carers-and-support-their-wellbeing.
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers James Merlino said carers did such an incredible job caring for loved ones and it was critical they got the support and downtime they needed to keep themselves well.

Crime Stoppers Victoria is urging farmers and rural property owners across the state to speak up about theft on farms.

Launched recently, in partnership with Victoria Police, the new campaign Putting a Spotlight on Farm Crime aims to increase farm crime reported in Victoria, whether it’s stolen livestock,
harvested animals, firearms, equipment, tools, or chemicals.

New data released by the Crime Statistics Agency has revealed livestock theft across the state has risen by two per cent in the past 12 months, costing rural communities close to
$2,000,000. Despite this staggering figure, underreporting of farm crime remains a widespread problem.

Stella Smith, Chief Executive of Crime Stoppers Victoria, said farm thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they target victims.

“We’re seeing offenders use drones and satellite imagery to spy on rural properties. It doesn’t matter if you live in a remote area, with technology criminals can easily find a way to
steal from you,” Ms Smith said.

A recent study by Dr Alistair Harkness, Co-Director of the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England, identified concerns from farmers that the offender is known
and living in a community, and there exists fear of reprisal.

Sharing what you know with Crime Stoppers overcomes that fear.

Ms Smith said it is vital farmers and property owners make a report to Crime Stoppers if they’ve been targeted by criminals or have suspicions farm crime has occurred. Information
can be provided anonymously.

“Even the smallest piece of information could assist police with an investigation and help reduce the rate of farm crime in Victoria.”

Acting Inspector Emma Bartel, of Victoria Police’s Farm Crime Coordination Unit, said: “We take farm crime very seriously.”

“It’s vital farmers come forward to report any crime and they should know we will investigate it fully. We understand the impact theft of livestock and equipment can have on farmers and their livelihoods.

“We encourage people in rural areas to report any suspicious activity. The information they have might be the piece we need to hold perpetrators to account.

“We also urge farmers to take precautions – a simple measure like a sign on the fence warning would-be trespassers to stay off private property can go a long way to discouraging crime.”

The public is also being encouraged to check the authenticity of livestock and second-hand farming equipment before purchasing.

“If you buy livestock or machinery for a steal, it probably is,” Ms Smith said.

To help boost security on rural properties, Crime Stoppers Victoria in conjunction with Victoria Police, has produced new farm gate signs, available to order for free through the Crime Stoppers website.

Rural property owners are also encouraged to download the Farm Security checklist.

“By using these free resources, farm owners are helping protect themselves and their properties from both organised criminals and opportunistic offenders,” Ms Smith said.

A selection of online courses that can be undertaken at your own pace, at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection.

The Victorian Government understands that life can get busy and it isn’t always possible to attend courses in person.

eLearning provides an accessible and flexible option for learning and expanding your knowledge.

It enables you to enhance your skills without having to attend an event or workshop in person which could be a significant distance from home, or difficult to complete due to time constraints.

To access courses, you will need to create an account.

This will allow you full access to the courses and it will track your progress as you move through them.

Browse the range of courses that can be undertaken at your own pace, at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection.

This week’s eLearn in profile is: Understanding the weather forecast. What does it all mean?

Weather directly influences the world we live and work in.

This course will help you correctly interpret weather information within an eight-day forecast.

The course focuses on understanding how forecast information is developed and reported, including probabilities of forecast outcomes and explores where you can access reliable and credible weather information and the questions to ask when evaluating the wide range of forecasting apps and websites available.

This eLearn from Agriculture Victoria will take about 15 minutes to complete.

The Victorian Government’s work to bolster the economy, support workers and protect businesses against the devastating effects of the coronavirus has put Victoria in a strong position to rebuild as the state reopens.
New figures released today show more jobs were created than lost over the course of the past financial year.
While 238,600 Victorians lost work between March and September 2020, 240,200 Victorians found work between September 2020 and June 2021.
Despite the effects of the pandemic on the labour market, between November 2014 and June 2021 520,800 jobs were created in Victoria, including 97,800 in regional Victoria, showing we are in a position to bounce back strongly again as restrictions ease
The report presents the consolidated financial outcomes for Victoria, including the general government sector, the public non-financial corporations sector and the public financial corporations sector.
The deficit was $14.6 billion, an improvement of $2.9 billion from the revised estimate in the Victorian Budget 2021/22. As of 30 June 2021, net debt sits at $72.7 billion, which is $4.8 billion less than the Revised Budget estimate and $14 billion less than the original Budget estimate.

This is consistent with our four step fiscal strategy of creating jobs, returning to an operating cash surplus, returning to operating surpluses then stabilising debt levels.
A stronger than anticipated recovery in Victoria’s property market contributed to state taxation revenue being $145 million higher than initially estimated. This included the effect of property tax relief provided as part of the Government’s response to the pandemic.
Victoria had a record capital spend in 2020-21 of $15 billion, $2.9 billion higher than last year, due to the state’s strong pipeline of public infrastructure projects, which have driven job creation and economic growth.
Consumer spending fell 3.6 per cent but was offset by increased government spending and the Government’s support measures. Public consumption was up 7.6 per cent and public investment up 10.4 per cent.
Total general government sector expenses increased to $87.2 billion in 2020-21, including measures to support jobs and businesss and to deliver the public health response, including hotel quarantine. These total expenses were $1.7 billion lower than the revised estimate in the 2021-22 Victorian State Budget.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said despite a pandemic that had swept through the world, Victoria’s strong economic fundamentals have helped us weather this storm and put us in a strong position to rebuild as the state opens up.
“While we know the pandemic has had, and continues to have, an impact on many businesses and families, these figures show how resilient our economy is. We bounced back after previous lockdowns and we will again.”

The Game Management Authority is conducting its annual helicopter survey across Victoria to monitor the abundance of game duck populations, to help improve our knowledge of waterfowl ecology.
The aerial survey will be conducted by experienced wildlife biologists recording the presence, species and number of game ducks on waterbodies across Victoria.
Satellite imaging will then be used to determine how much water is in the landscape, which will inform an estimate of the total abundance of each game duck species in the state.
GMA Chief Executive Officer Graeme Ford said this is the largest and most comprehensive survey of game ducks undertaken in Victoria.

“The aerial survey was conducted for the first time in 2020, as part of a pilot to test the monitoring program design and evaluate its effectiveness to count duck numbers on Victorian water bodies.” Mr Ford said.
“An evaluation of the first survey has since found that the methodology for conducting the surveys was robust, and that the data collected is viable.”
“In addition to the 2020 monitoring programme which surveyed wetlands, sewerage ponds and farm dams we will now also be surveying irrigation channels, creeks and rivers.”
“Results from this research give us a better understanding of game duck populations and will be used in the future to help inform adaptive harvest management to set sustainable duck season arrangements.”
The 2021 survey will take place from approximately 19 October – 15 November, subject to weather conditions or other delays and will cover much of the state where ducks are found.
A map of the flight paths is available at https://bit.ly/2YV9tBg. The flight schedule may change from day to day, depending on weather conditions or other factors.
Residents in the areas where the surveys will take place may see a helicopter flying at low levels for a short time and for no longer than is necessary. The safety of people and livestock is a priority.
Results of the 2021 survey will be made available on the GMA website following conclusion of the program.

The state government is building new and transform existing sport and active recreation facilities that result in enhanced participation opportunities for more Victorians.

Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the applications for the 2021-22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund were now open.

Up to $27 million is available to deliver new and improved facilities across the state, with a particular focus on providing facilities to encourage participation among women and girls.

With a number of clubs and communities doing it tough over the course of the pandemic, the fund will help to stimulate local economies and a return to sport by investing in critical community infrastructure.

The fund supports projects across five funding streams including indoor stadiums / aquatic centres, female-friendly facilities, community sports lighting, community facilities, and planning.

Highlights of the 2021-22 round include a new maximum grant amount for female-friendly facilities of up to $800,000 to support more women and girls securing the benefits of participation in sport and active recreation. Further, the planning stream has been re-introduced to support municipal and regional planning projects that determine future sport and active recreation needs.

Interested clubs are advised to contact their local council to help with the application process. For more information or to apply online visit sport.vic.gov.au   

Ms Pulford said sporting clubs were the lifeblood of the community, and deserved modern, accessible and safe facilities.

“Better facilities allow clubs to take on more players, host more events and draw in bigger crowds. This funding is a terrific opportunity for our community.”

The federal government is providing $400,000 to fund an extension of the highly regarded Red Nose Hospital to Home Program for a further six months, which provides intensive support to grieving families following the loss of a baby.

Australia is one of the safest places in the world for a baby to be born. Despite this, every year, approximately 2,000 families lose a baby to stillbirth, around 110,000 Australians have a miscarriage and 600 lose their baby in the first 28 days after birth. An estimated 70 per cent of women will experience grief-related depressive symptoms at clinically significant levels one year after stillbirth.

The Hospital to Home Program aims to reduce the likelihood of complications with grief that can lead to mental health issues, poor productivity and other lifelong issues for families that experience the loss of a baby.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Hospital to Home Program provides support to bereaved parents at a time when they are at most risk of isolation and psychological distress.

“The pain of the loss does not stop with mothers. It also affects partners and families and has a flow on effect to the community and this extra funding will ensure they can continue to receive the support they need,” Minister Hunt said.

“The Hospital to Home Program is helping families across the country, including those living in rural and remote areas.”

As at 30 June 2021, 211 families had been referred to the Hospital to Home Program, with twenty-one per cent of these families living in rural and regional areas.

The Hospital to Home Program is helping to ensure healthy grieving, increasing the understanding of family, friends and community of the needs of bereaved families, identifying grieving issues early to reduce mental health problems, and supports getting people back to ‘normal’ activities, including work.

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said Hospital to Home Program was an important initiative for Australian families, including for those in our local community.

“We want to ensure that Australians who are grieving the loss of a baby can access support when and where they need it,” Senator Henderson said.

“This funding builds on our Government’s commitment to improving health outcomes for mothers and babies to reduce the devastation of pregnancy and infant loss.”

The federal government is investing $152.3 million in perinatal services and support measures, including $21.3 million to reduce stillbirth and support families affected by stillbirth. The aim is to reduce stillbirth by 20 per cent or more by December 2025.

Recognising that preterm birth is a key cause of stillbirth and infant loss, the Government is providing $13.7 million to implement the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance’s program nationally to reduce the rate of preterm birth in Australia.

Our $43.9 million investment in the Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program supports families experiencing grief following the death of a child, including as a result of stillbirth.

Many of these initiatives are being delivered in partnership with states and territories, and non-government organisations including Red Nose, the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence and the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance.

The Red Nose Hospital to Home Program will continue to be available for families who need support until 30 June 2022.

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the federal government’s Escaping Violence Payment would provide women fleeing violence with up to $5000 of immediate support, regardless of their income or assets. 

“The Morrison Government is absolutely committed to ending domestic, family and sexual violence and this new program offers another tool in the toolkit under our record $1.1 billion investment in women’s safety,” Senator Henderson said.

“The payments will support an estimated 12,000 women each year by helping address the financial barriers for leaving violent relationships, alleviating one of the main reasons women stay with or return to abusive partners.

“The payments will help victims establish a home free from violence, get back on their feet and get their kids back in school,” Senator Henderson said.  

The new payment is available to anyone experiencing financial stress. For example if a bank account is frozen, a credit card cancelled or no access available for money needed to pay for rent or accommodation.

Applicants must be experiencing family and domestic violence that has changed their living circumstances and be under financial stress.

Evidence can include, but is not limited to, a referral from a family and domestic violence service provider with a risk assessment and safety plan, an AVO, court order or a police report.

UnitingCare, which has extensive experience working with people experiencing DV, will help applicants through the process. Applicants must be 18 years or older and an Australia citizen or permanent resident as outlined in the subsection 7(2) of the Social Security Act 1991

To find out more visit: www.unitingvictas.org.au/escaping-violence-payment

The Victorian Government is supporting agribusinesses to grow their global sales and reach new markets through a new state-of-the-art trade facility in China.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas today launched Vic House – the Victorian Food and Fibre Trade Pavilion in Shanghai – which provides Victorian agriculture producers and exporters with a dedicated in-market space to showcase their products.
The pavilion has been developed to support established, emerging and start-up food and fibre export businesses and will allow Victoria’s agriculture sector to strengthen existing trade relationships, build new networks and boost export opportunities.
The dedicated three-story facility features rooms to conduct virtual business meetings with importers and retailers, high-end supermarket shelving for product display and a full kitchen for cooking demonstrations and hosting dinners to sample produce.
The space also provides Victorian agribusinesses with the opportunity to tailor events to meet Chinese consumer demand by offering seasonal produce tastings in the facility’s chilled and frozen display area.
Vic House will support existing and prospective Victorian exporters to access this key market where demand for Victoria’s high-quality food and fibre products remains strong. China is Victoria’s largest food and fibre export market with sales worth $4.75 billion in 2019-20.
Vic House is supported through the Victorian Government’s $15 million Food to Market Program and $5 million Pathways to Export Program. Three agriculture export specialists were recently appointed in key markets for Victorian food and fibre, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
The new pavilion is part of the Government’s commitment to supporting Victoria’s agricultural producers and exporters to access a wide range of markets across the globe.
For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/pathwaystoexport.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said Vic House would be the perfect place for both established exporters looking to strengthen existing relationships and export-ready Victorian agribusinesses who are new to the market to showcase their produce.
“This facility will give Victorian agribusinesses the opportunity to secure a strong position in a critical export market and continue the recovery from global market disruptions caused by the pandemic.”
Minister for Trade Martin Pakula said exports played a critical role in Victoria’s economy and it was important to continue to invest in established and emerging markets for future growth.

The Victorian Government is using the power of sport, art, music and creativity to keep vulnerable young people away from the justice system.
Opening today, the Youth Engagement Grants provide up to $50,000 for projects designed by small multicultural and Aboriginal clubs to engage young people and help keep them on the right path. The grants can be used to boost an existing program or to fund new projects.
Through co-designing a project with the support of Government, the grants also give smaller organisations the opportunity to build expertise in developing proposals.

This partnership approach will build the capacities of grassroots groups, allowing them to deliver projects that acknowledge the diverse needs of their communities.
The new grants are part of the Building Safer Communities Program, which supports Victorian communities to address the root causes of crime and improve community safety.
Working together to provide positive opportunities for at-risk young people forms part of the Government’s Crime Prevention Strategy, which is backed by more than $30 million in investment.
The Crime Prevention Strategy sets out a clear plan and a long-term, evidence-based approach to addressing the causes of offending to keep our communities safe.
A Youth Engagement Grants information session will be held online on 3 November 2021, with expressions of interest open from 18 October until 13 December 2021.
Visit crimeprevention.vic.gov.au for more information.
Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins said the Youth Engagement Grants focused on the smaller, grassroots organisations which already know their local communities and what young people need.
“It’s important that young people have the chance to participate in local sport, arts or music. Getting involved helps them make the most of their lives and stay away from the justice system.”

An outstanding, globally recognised leader in education has been appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Victorian Government’s new Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.
Minister for Education James Merlino has announced Dr Marcia Devlin will lead the Australian-first academy, which will deliver advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers thanks to the Government’s investment of $148.2 million.
Dr Devlin will join the Academy from her most recent role as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University. She has previously held executive and senior roles at Federation University, RMIT University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne, with extensive experience in professional learning.
Dr Devlin is a qualified teacher and registered psychologist who began her education career as a teacher before moving into the tertiary sector.

She is a member of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Board, a Non-Executive Director on the Melbourne Polytechnic Board, and a Trust Member of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.
The Academy will deliver the nation’s first program of advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers in government, Catholic and independent schools through academies in Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Moe and Shepparton in 2022.
The Academy’s flagship offering will be the Teaching Excellence Program, a one-year program supporting up to 500 teachers each year to advance their professional practice, with access to the best research in the science of learning and discipline-based content knowledge.
The program will enable teachers to learn from one another and share best-practice, ideas and experience further raising the calibre and status of the entire teaching profession.
These teachers will then share their expertise and knowledge with their own school communities, ensuring every classroom and all students can benefit from this investment.
Graduates will be known as Academy Fellows, with the most exceptional graduates having the opportunity to become Master Teachers and undertake research fellowships to lead the design and delivery of the program.
The Teaching Excellence Program will commence in Term 1, 2022.
Minister for Education James Merlino said he was thrilled to announced that Dr Devlin would lead the Australian-first academy, sharing her expertise in both the school and tertiary sectors to deliver world-class professional learning opportunities for Victorian teachers.

Ms Devlin said she was honoured to have the opportunity to lead the new Academy focused on teaching and leadership excellence, something that has been a passion of hers throughout her academic career.

The state government is helping kindergarten services in Macedon reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, with support for better ventilation measures to help keep children and staff COVIDSafe.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas has said more than $7.5 million worth of grants statewide would be available for local not-for-profit kindergarten services to support additional ventilation and air purification measures.
Funding was available from Monday, October 18 and is open to all Victorian not-for-profit funded sessional and long day care providers offering a funded three or four-year-old kindergarten program.
Eligible services will be sent an email where they simply opt-in for the grant ─ which can be spent on ventilation and air purification enhancements as well as small-scale building works like adding or replacing windows and installing outdoor shade structures to increase learning outside.
Many Victorian early childhood education and care services can already create environments with good ventilation through opening windows and doors, and using existing outdoor learning spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Air purification is also an important measure for spaces where there may be limited ability to increase ventilation, such as kitchens or staff areas.
This follows the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s directions that vaccination is a requirement of work in an early childhood setting – protecting children, staff and the broader community.
All workers in early childhood settings must have a first dose by 25 October, with full vaccination required by 29 November unless a medical exemption applies.
To find out more visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Pages/Kinder-Ventilation-Support.
Ms Thomas said eligible kinder services in Macedon would be able opt-in for the funding to improve the ventilation or air purification measures to facilitate the continuity of early years learning under COVIDSafe measures.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt said the government knew how important it was to keep kindergarten children, their families and the dedicated staff safe.

“That’s why we are supporting ventilation and air purification measures to reduce the risk of transmission.
“These grants are easy to access and will allow kindergarten services to improve their ventilation and air purification for the health of staff, kids and local families.”

Schools will be able to pick the mental health tools that best match the needs of their students, with the Victorian Government’s Schools Mental Health Fund providing a suite of options to give students tailored support.
Minister for Education James Merlino today revealed the interim menu of resources and initiatives to be available to government schools as part of the $200 million Fund, designed to better support students’ mental health.
The move delivers on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which called for a fund to support schools with evidence-informed initiatives for students’ mental health and wellbeing.
Schools will be able to select evidence-based programs and initiatives from the online menu across three tiers of intervention:
• Tier One: positive mental health promotion, including initiatives like Active Schools, mental health first aid, anti-bullying programs and therapy dogs as whole-school investments to help create a positive, inclusive environment, as well as mental health literacy training to ensure mental health issues are addressed early
• Tier Two: early intervention and cohort-specific initiatives including cross-cultural responsiveness training, Arts Therapy or trauma informed care, ensuring programs cater to all students
• Tier Three: targeted support for those experiencing mental health issues such as additional mental health professionals, additional Headspace counselling, or suicide related support
As per the recommendations of the Royal Commission, the Fund will be implemented in all government schools across regional Victoria from mid-2022 and will be in every state school by 2024.
This comes on top of the Government’s completed rollout of a mental health practitioner in every government secondary school. Further, an additional 74 primary schools across Victoria will join the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot in 2022 – bringing the total number of schools in the pilot to 100.
A partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot provides schools with funding for a Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing aimed at younger children.
Work to reform the state’s mental health services is well underway, with a record $3.8 billion allocated in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to deliver every single recommendation of the Royal Commission and build a system that works for every Victorian.
To access the menu, visit https://www.education.vic.gov.au/mental-health-menu-for-schools.
Minister for Education James Merlino said now more than ever, kids needed support both at home and at school to make sure their wellbeing was on track.

“These tailored initiatives will help keep Victorian students happy and healthy, so they can focus on succeeding in their learning as we emerge from the pandemic.”
“Our schools play a central role in the development of every young Victorian – that’s why it is so important they take a leadership role in supporting student mental health.”