The state government is backing dozens of events and activities celebrating Victoria’s diverse LGBTIQA+ communities held around the state. 

Minister for Equality Vicki Ward has announced the 31 recipients of the Pride Events and Festivals Fund (PEFF) which will deliver $400,000 to bring communities of all ages together to celebrate diversity, build resilience and promote inclusion.

Among this year’s recipients are the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, delivering the Queer Multicultural Carnival 2026, a one-day celebration of LGBTIQA+ multicultural and multifaith communities through food, culture and connection.

LINE Wangaratta will run Pride Fair Day 2026, a free, family-friendly festival featuring live music, local stalls and activities celebrating LGBTIQA+ communities in the region.

Drummond Street Services will deliver three events in partnership with Q+Hub for young LGBTIQA+ people in Ballarat and Geelong. The program includes a Q+Hub camp, the Ballarat Pride Ball and an intergenerational roller-skating event held in Geelong.

The PEFF program has supported more than 260 events and festivals across Victoria to date. The competitive grants program is part of the government’s Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Strategy 2022-2032, building safe, strong and supported communities.

A full list of recipients is available at vic.gov.au/successful-recipients-pride-events-and-festivals-fund.

The state government is getting on with delivering the Henderson Road and Ferntree Gully Road Intersection Upgrade in Knoxfield, with the contract now awarded and major construction starting this year.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne hasannounced Fulton Hogan will deliver the upgrade in partnership with Big Build Roads.

The Henderson Road and Ferntree Gully Road Intersection Upgrade will deliver targeted improvements to ease congestion and improve safety.

Works include construction of a new left-turn slip lane from Henderson Road onto Ferntree Gully Road, extending the existing right-turn lane into Henderson Road from Ferntree Gully Road, adding an additional right-turn lane into Henderson Road, and extending the existing right-turn lane into St Laurent Rise from Ferntree Gully Road.

Early utility works are already underway, with major construction scheduled to commence in March.

This project will increase capacity at a key local intersection, improve travel times and enhance safety for the approximately 40,000 vehicles that travel through this section of Ferntree Gully Road every day.

The upgrade builds on the successful nearby Henderson Road and Kelletts Road intersection upgrade, which delivered significant improvements to traffic flow, travel times and safer access in and out of Henderson Road.

To learn more, visit transport.vic.gov.au.

To receive SMS disruption alerts text HENDERSON to 0499 073 073.

Ms Horne said the Henderson-Ferntree Gully Road intersection sees 40,000 cars drive through every day – “this upgrade will improve safety, travel times and capacity for people driving in and around Knoxfield”.

“We’re getting on with delivering the upgrades to roads, intersections and interchanges Victorians use every single day – making sure people spend less time on the road, and more time where they want to be.”

Lower interest rates have seen the volume of new homes commencing construction increase, but they still remain well below the government’s target,” stated HIA Senior Economist, Maurice Tapang.

The ABS today released its Building Activity data for the September quarter 2025. This data provides estimates of the value of building work and number of dwellings commenced, completed and under construction across Australia and its states and territories.

“Dwelling commencements in the 12 months to September 2025 increased by 11.2 per cent compared to the previous year to 184,460,” added Mr Tapang.

“The volume of home commencements remains below the 240,000 new homes per annum needed to build to the Australian Government’s target of 1.2 million homes over five years. They also remain below the average volume commenced over the past decade.

“These are positive signs that confirm our expectation that the number of homes commencing construction will see steady, not explosive, growth over the next couple of years.

“This growth is expected to come from a resurgence in apartment construction. Apartment construction remains well below the volume commencing construction a decade ago and is one of the of keys to increasing supply.

“In order to increase the supply of homes, governments need to help lower the cost of delivering new homes to market.

“Demand is not the challenge. Delivery is. Land supply, infrastructure timing, planning bottlenecks and workforce capacity will shape the 2026 experience more than interest rates.,” concluded Mr Tapang.

Victoria’s visitor economy is set for another boost – as Melbourne secures a major soccer event that will bring four nations together for the Socceroos’ farewell ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos welcomed the announcement of the FIFA Series, a double-header event in March that will deliver strong visitation and economic benefits to the state.

The event will feature four nations, with China to take on Cameroon at 5.00pm, followed by the Socceroos facing off against Curacao at 8.10pm on 31 March at AAMI Park.

The matches provide local fans with yet another opportunity to watch world-class sporting events close to home.

The games will be broadcast to the rest of the nation, showcasing the state and helping create future demand for Victoria’s incredible visitor experiences.

The FIFA Series 2026™ in Melbourne adds to a huge pipeline of activity in 2026, including the Australian Open, Festival of Sails, the NGV’s Westwood | Kawakubo exhibition, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Melbourne Fashion Festival and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.

For more information and tickets, visit Ticketek. Presale for FA+ members begins at 10am and Football Family members at 12pm AEDT on Thursday, 22 January. General Public tickets on sale from 4pm on Friday, 23 January.

Mr Dimopoulos said this was another blockbuster major event in the heart of Melbourne, providing an opportunity for all football fans from across Australia and the region to fill AAMI Park and send off the Socceroos in style.

“Victorians are massive supporters of the Socceroos and we look forward to creating the incredible atmosphere our fans are renowned for.”

“Our major events calendar helps to attract even more visitors to Victoria – driving our record $46 billion visitor economy and supporting thousands of jobs.”

The new school year could pack fresh money pain for Australian families, with the average spend on uniforms, shoes, electronics, and other supplies climbing to $767 according to data from Compare the Market.

Concerningly, many of the Australians surveyed plan to cover the costs with credit cards (38%), buy now, pay later services (17%), or through personal loans (3%).

The findings were consistent with the comparison experts’ 2025 Household Budget Barometer report, which revealed credit cards were the most popular form of debt by far, growing 9% year-on-year.

Source: Compare the Market

Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said January could be an expensive month, with many families still counting the cost of Christmas.“Parents don’t get much of a break over summer because when the holiday spending is finally done the school supply list drops,” Mr Ford said. “This year the average spend is more than $700 and that’s a lot for families who many already be struggling under the weight of energy bills, insurances and mortgages. “And according to our survey, only a third of parents will pay for supplies out of pocket, with the rest all dipping into credit cards or adding to other debts to survive.” If someone was to put the average $767 school supply bill on a credit card with an interest rate of 18%, it would take them almost five years to clear the debt making minimum repayments. With the addition of interest, that debt would ultimately cost those parents $1,150. Mr Ford encouraged parents to try to limit debt where possible and look for other ways to save, to help cover school costs. “Look out for different incentives to ease the burden,” Mr Ford said. “In Queensland, for example there’s the back-to-school boost that’s an annual contribution of $100 for every primary school student. “Most schools will sell good-quality second-hand uniforms, or you could try organising a free swap with friends who’ve out-grown their old gear. “Remember the stationary list is a guide, not a rule book. Crunch the numbers, compare prices and scratch anything off the list that you already have in the bag. Your kids will give you an A+ for saving.”

When referencing this research, please attribute: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/back-to-school-2026/

Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey a nationally representative sample of 1,010 Australians in December 2025.

Stage 3 water restrictions will commence in the Forest Hill service region from Friday 23 January 2026.

Following the introduction of Stage 1 water restrictions in early November 2025, Central Highlands Water (CHW) has been closely monitoring groundwater levels, and water usage, to ensure there continues to be enough supply for customers, businesses and community users.

Dry conditions have persisted across Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Newlyn North, Smeaton, and Springmount. Groundwater recharge remains extremely low, and aquifer levels are comparable to the millennium drought.

CHW Managing Director Jeff Haydon said that moving to Stage 3 reflects the dry conditions across the region.

“I understand restrictions are challenging and impact everyone differently.

“We appreciate the efforts of customers across the Forest Hill region for the positive steps they have already taken to use water wisely” Mr Haydon said.

“Those efforts have made a difference; however, the continued dry conditions mean stronger measures are now required to protect essential water supplies. This is why the swift move from Stage 1 to Stage 3 restrictions is necessary.”

CHW will continue to closely monitor water levels, usage trends and weather patterns over the coming period.

“Groundwater responds very slowly to rainfall, so we cannot expect a quick recovery. This is why local support is so essential while groundwater resources remain under pressure,” he said.

Mr Haydon also encouraged households to stay mindful of their everyday water use.

“Small changes really do add up, shorter showers, fixing leaks promptly, using appliances with full loads, and avoiding watering during hotter parts of the day can all help reduce pressure on our supplies and lower household costs. We appreciate the efforts already being made across the community. Every drop counts.” Mr Haydon said.

Customers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Stage 3 water restrictions, which outline when and how water can be used during drier conditions. These measures are in place to help protect local water supplies and support the long-term sustainability of the Forest Hill region groundwater system. Find out more: chw.net.au/restrictions.

Key restrictions include:

• residential and commercial lawns cannot be watered

• gardens can only be watered on alternate days, from 6:00 am to 8:00 am, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, bucket or watering can, or with a dripper watering system

• fountains or water features cannot be filled or topped up at any time

• cleaning and hosing down hard surfaces are restricted

• filling pools and spas is not permitted. Pools/spas can be topped up on alternate days between 6:00 am and 8:00 am with a hand-held hose, bucket or watering can, or automatic top-up device, or in accordance with an approved Water Use Plan

• washing vehicle windows, mirrors, lights, and registration plates, as well as removing corrosive substances, can be done at home using a bucket or watering can, or at a commercial car wash, and only where cleaning is required for health and safety reasons, safety hazard or other emergencies

By continuing to use water wisely and looking out for one another, the Forest Hill community can help safeguard local water resources and contribute to a more sustainable future for the region.

Long-term water security

CHW’s groundwater allocation in the Forest Hill region is currently operating under a 50 percent allocation for the 2025-26 season, as set by Goulburn-Murray Water’s Regional Groundwater Management Plan.

CHW is exploring options to improve the long-term security and reliability of water supply for communities in the Forest Hill region.

In 2025, funding was secured to investigate the Forest Hill Water Supply Connection Project, with opportunities to connect to the Ballarat water supply network currently being assessed. This future focused work will help deliver a more secure and climate resilient drinking water supply while reducing reliance on increasingly pressured groundwater systems.

Water saving efforts and community support CHW encourages residents to remain alert for water leaks to help protect local water supplies. Irregular lawn and scrub growth, and small puddles or pools of water without rain can indicate a leak.

The simplest and most effective way to have a leak resolved swiftly is to take a photo and report the suspected leak using the Snap Send Solve app.

Farmers in fire affected areas are encouraged to monitor their dams and remove floating debris as soon as possible following heavy or prolonged rain. They should also consider installing sediment traps upstream of their bigger dams.
Following fires, many dams became unusable due to pollution from decomposing organic matter or after being filled with soil, sand, and gravel.
While little can be done in the short term to remove the heavier materials, quick action to remove floating materials can be highly effective in maintaining water quality. Typically, these floating materials consist of ash, charcoal, straw, grass, leaves, and manure. These materials can cause issues for the water supply if they aren’t quickly removed.
Within a couple of days, debris will sink and begin to break-down causing the water to become putrid and potentially unusable for livestock.
There are many ways to remove debris from dams, including dragging the material to the bank using a chain mesh boom. Use of chain mesh, which is commonly used to construct tennis court fences, suspended from a series of floats to create a boom to clear the debris. The boom can then be dragged across the dam using ropes attached to each end.
Once the debris has been dragged to the side of the dam, it can be removed using a small weldmesh cage or with a sieving bucket on an excavator. While upstream sediment traps will reduce the risk of pollution, it is inevitable that some dams will become contaminated.
When time permits, sediment traps can be installed to prevent debris from entering dams. There are a number of ways that farmers can establish a sediment trap.
Common approaches include attaching wire netting on the upstream side of existing fences where they cross the drainage line (to trap the flood debris) or establishing a temporary netting fence across a drainage line if there is no existing fence.
For more information on organic pollution in farm dams visit the Agriculture Victoria website at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/water/managing-dams/organic-pollution-in-farm-dams
For more information on managing stock water impacted by bushfire, ash and debris visit the Agriculture Victoria website https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/bushfires/what-to-do-after-a-bushfire/stock-water-impacted-by-bushfire-ash-and-debris or call 136 186.

Council is accepting nominations for people, events and activities that have made significant impacts on the lives of others in Hepburn Shire.

Categories:

Citizen of the Year

Young Citizen of the Year (25 years or younger)

Community Event of the Year

Hepburn Together Award

Successful nominees will be announced at an event on Tuesday 19 May at The Warehouse – Clunes from 5 to 7 pm. Council has decided to host the event during National Volunteer Week (18-24 May) this year to better align the event with the celebration of volunteers. Mayor, Councillor Tony Clark, said that our volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities and that those who have made outstanding contributions should be nominated and thanked. “Volunteers devote time and energy to making a difference to their communities whether it be coaching sports teams, advocating for those in need, providing meals at events and for vulnerable people or always putting their hand up to help,” he said. “We are pleased to be able to host this event and encourage everyone to take the time to nominate someone who is working tirelessly for their community. It’s a chance to thank those in our community who are giving up their time to support others,” he said.

Nominations can be made online.

Tagged as:

Arts & Culture, Community, Events & Activities Honours & Celebration

Business Victoria are pleased to share details of the Business Skills Mentoring program that supports small businesses across Victoria.

This program offers eligible small businesses up to 3 one-hour mentoring sessions with a professional business adviser to be used within 3 months. The sessions help business owners to build their skills, clarify goals and address challenges with practical advice.

Program eligibility

Businesses that meet the following eligibility criteria are encouraged to submit an expression of interest:

• be registered in Victoria
• employ 0–20 employees,
• be GST registered
• have held an active ABN continuously from 1 December 2024
• operate in one of the following sectors:

– advanced manufacturing and defence

– health technologies and medical research

– circular economy

– digital technologies

– agribusiness

– regional tourism.

For more information, please access the Business Victoria website

In the next few weeks, we’ll be hosting a brand update session (details below) for anyone who was unable to attend our December Industry Event. We’re also preparing to launch our new Grampians website and we have three upcoming familiarisations (two international from Visit Victoria and one media) visiting the region to experience everything we have to offer.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the pain being felt by many of our industry colleagues and operators across the state following the devastating fires over the past week. There is barely a region untouched, and as those who live and work in the Grampians and Wimmera Mallee know all too well, there will be significant rebuilding required for brand Victoria over the next 12 months.

Our primary role at GWMT is clear. We want to see people returning to every part of the region again as soon as it is safe to do so. Everything we do is focused on driving visitation and helping our communities recover quickly and stronger than before.

If you are searching for any of the latest Fire Recovery support or Crisis Planning resources please visit our corporate website.

We are here to assist you so please do not hesitate to contact any member of the GWMT Team for assistance.

In response to the bushfires and ongoing drought, a new round of applications for the Look Over the Farm Gate community events program opens.
The Look Over the Farm Gate program offers grants of up to $5,000 for events and activities that support mental health and wellbeing of farmers and farming communities.
Since June 2025, funding has been provided to over 160 events, with more than 130 Look Over the Farm Gate-supported events held.
The program is part of the Victorian Government’s drought support package of $146.5 million and is administered by the National Centre for Farmer Health on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Acting Director Agriculture Services Aimee McCutcheon said the program helps local organisations to deliver events for their community who are doing it tough and has been extremely popular across the state.
‘We have seen a range of fantastic events coming through, from BBQs to film screenings, guest speakers, to sporting activities – all focused on meeting the needs of local communities,’ Mrs McCutcheon said.
Events held in 2025 included:
In Kyabram Blooming in the Dry was attended by 50 farming women. Event organiser Renee Pichler said this event was designed for those who are often carrying the invisible load of farm stress and household management. Attendees went away with new connections, support service information and a fresh posy.’
A Farmers-Q event was held in Cavendish for 140 people. Event organiser Wayne Vearing said, ‘After a successful event in 2024, we wanted to keep the momentum going with a BBQ for the whole community to take a break and talk to a mate. Money raised from donated items is going back into the local community.’
Applications for this new round of Look Over the Farm Gate funding will remain open until the allocated funding has been exhausted or until 30 June 2026.
Find out more and apply via the National Centre for Farmer Heath website.
Find more information about available drought support visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.

This year, our focus is on helping you adapt to change, embrace innovation, promote learning opportunities and drive sustainable growth for a stronger community.

Stay tuned for upcoming editions packed with resources and insights to help your business thrive.

Let’s build a brighter, more prosperous future together!

We would also like to acknowledge the devastation our neighbouring councils have recently experienced and wish them all the best with their recovery. If your business has been impacted by the fires (i.e. had stock at Harcourt Cool Store) and we haven’t touched base please reach out to us so we can understand the impacts and let you know of any available support.

Almost $82 million has been announced to restore and repair state roads and public transport infrastructure damaged by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, ensuring critical transport links are restored for regional communities.

Of that, up to $44 million is for emergency works which will be funded by the Albanese and Allan Governments under joint Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The Allan Government will fund a further $37 million.

This builds upon previously announced support and responds directly to needs identified by affected communities as they start their recovery journey.

We’ve seen a significant impact not only on the road surfaces but also critical roadside and safety infrastructure including barriers, signage and vegetation as well as the strain to roads from heavy machinery used for tree clearing on the roads.

Crews will be out repairing wire rope and guard rails, cleaning up trees and debris, making sure signage remains intact and undertaking road repairs, supporting local economies and businesses, which rely on safe and accessible roads.

We are undertaking works along critical routes including Murchison-Violet Town Road to ensure this critical detour route for the Hume Highway remains open for local communities.

The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning is preparing for significantly more road pavement damage and repairs on roads such as the Murray Valley Highway, Benalla-Tocumwal Road and Shelley-Walwa Road.

The Albanese and Allan Governments are committed to ensuring bushfire-affected Victorians have the support they need to recover from these devastating bushfires. Information about recovery support is available now on the Emergency Recovery Victoria website:  vic.gov.au/january-2026-victorian-bushfires

If you would like to support communities impacted by these fires, the Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation (VERRF) has launched the January 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal: vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bushfire-Appeal

If you would like to donate goods or volunteer your time, you are encouraged to reach out to appropriate charities like GIVIT.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain

“The Albanese Government is fully invested in supporting the communities impacted by these devastating bushfires.

“This funding supports repairs to vital infrastructure, helping communities on the road to recovery.”

Quote attributable to Victorian Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward

“Getting on with the job of repairing critical transport infrastructure is an important part of the vital first-steps in ensuring bushfire-affected communities can rebuild and recover. We will always stand with Victorian communities on their journey to recovery.”

Quote attributable to Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne

“We have seen the impact these fires have had – and are continuing to have on the network and we are getting on with making sure these critical routes keep people on the move.”

Griffith University researchers may have unlocked the secret to treating sepsis, with a Phase II clinical trial in China successfully concluding with promising results.

The sepsis drug candidate, a carbohydrate-based drug called STC3141, was co-developed by Distinguished Professor Mark von Itzstein AO and his team from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, and Professor Christopher Parish and his team at The Australian National University. “The trial met the key endpoints to indicate the drug candidate was successful in reducing sepsis in humans,” Professor von Itzstein said. STC3141 was administered as an infusion via a cannula and counteracted a significant biological molecule release phenomenon which occurred in the body during the course of sepsis.

The small-molecule experimental drug was a carbohydrate-based molecule and could treat sepsis by reversing organ damage. Sepsis was known to affect millions of hospitalised patients across the world each year and occurred when the body’s immune response to an infection attacked and injured its own tissues and organs. “When sepsis is not recognised early and managed promptly, it can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and death,” Distinguished Professor von Itzstein said.

The trial, conducted by Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Grand Pharma), involved 180 patients with sepsis, one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. Currently, there is no specific anti-sepsis therapy available, and sepsis is considered a clinical unmet need.

Professor von Itzstein said Grand Pharma would now look to progress to a Phase III trial to continue testing the efficacy of the novel treatment. “It’s hoped we could see the treatment reach the market in a handful years, potentially saving millions of lives,” he said. Executive Director of the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Professor Paul Clarke, said: “I am thrilled to see the results of the trial which ultimately aims to save lives.” “The Institute and its researchers collectively work on translational research to deliver real and immediate impacts both in Australia, and globally to transform lives.”

This week, resheeting of Jubilee Road in Sulky will finish up, marking the end of our annual resheet program for this financial year.

Program highlights include:

• 10 roads improved
• 15 km of gravel roads resheeted across the Shire
• Over 14,500 tonnes of gravel moved
• $650,000 budget

As part of this year’s works, we trialled a new road mix on McLennans Road in Clunes and Jubilee Road in Sulky, two roads with higher traffic volumes and high maintenance needs.

We will monitor the results, but we expect it to deliver long-term benefits like:

• Reduced maintenance needs
• Better resistance to potholes and corrugations
• Lower overall lifecycle costs

Thank you to our community for your patience during these works. We’re proud to build safer, more resilient roads for everyone.