The Australian Ballet’s much-loved Ballet Under the Stars will be staged in Western Victoria for the first time, with a free outdoor performance at Horsham Recreational Reserve set to boost local tourism and businesses.

Ballet Under the Stars will transform City Oval into an open-air theatre for one night only, on Saturday 21 February, inviting audiences to experience world-class ballet beneath the summer sky.

The performance will showcase the elegance of The Sleeping Beauty Act III Polonaise and Grand Pas, the ethereal beauty of La Bayadère’s Kingdom of the Shades, and the technical brilliance of the heritage showpiece Grand Pas Classique.

 Guests can purchase food and drinks from onsite food trucks or bring their own picnics – providing a low-cost option for families – as they enjoy a special evening of world-class ballet along the stunning backdrop of the Wimmera region.

 The production is expected to create strong demand for local businesses, with visitors set to flock to the region for the weekend.

First launched in 1966, Ballet Under the Stars was historically confined to capital cities.

The event is backed by the Regional Events Fund, which supports events across the region such as the GPT 100 Miler, the Grampians Grape Escape and the Wimmera Steampunk Festival.

Event information and registration for complimentary tickets is available at https://australianballet.com.au/performances/ballet-under-the-stars

Twenty new projects have shared in more than $2 million from the Recreational Fishing Grants Program to help improve facilities and access to fishing.

It’s all about encouraging Victorians to get outdoors, creating memories and stronger communities.

The successful projects include:

• $71,500 for Corangamite CMA to install two fishing platforms on the Barwon River, Geelong.
• $70,000 for Melton City Council to install a second fishing landing at Navan Park Lake in Melton to improve recreational fishing access.
• $86,000 for a Catch a Carp education campaign by Fishcare Victoria including carp fishing events in five locations.
• $150,800 for the continuation of the Native Fish Report Cards program under which the Victorian Fisheries Authority helps monitor populations of key native species such as Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass.
• $98,000 for the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to increase woody habitat for native fish in the Mitchell, Nicholson, and Tambo River estuaries benefiting native species such as black bream, estuary perch and Australian bass.
• $85,800 for Coliban Water to install a fishing platform at Lauriston Reservoir near Kyneton.
• $20,600 for improve fishing opportunities in Little Snowy Creek near Eskdale by installing fish habitat.

The large grants category of the Recreational Fishing Grants Program is currently open for more new projects, worth up to $100,000 each, until 28 February 2026.

For more information on the 20 projects, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/feesatwork2025

Thanks to a graduate researcher harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), genetic selection will be even easier for breeders and researchers seeking varieties from the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) at Horsham SmartFarm.
Mr Nivin Goonesekera, a software engineer and PhD student at Agribio Bundoora, is working on a thesis titled ‘Seeing is believing: Visualising the Australian Grains Genebank’.
Mr Goonesekera is part of Agriculture Victoria’s higher education program and co-supervised by Agriculture Victoria’s Plant Functional Genomics team and the La Trobe University School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
Mr Goonesekera said his research has resulted in an AI driven, multi-dimensional search and visualisation tool called Gingerbread which will complement other digital tools in use and increase access to plant genetic resources at the AGG.
‘The AGG currently stores over 190,000 types of seed from more than 150 countries worldwide,’ Mr Goonesekera said.
‘For plant breeders, this enormous and complex collection can be quite challenging and time-consuming to search through.
‘Gingerbread will benefit plant breeders who are wanting to identity genetic material best suited for their research.
‘The tool has been coded with Python and uses AI algorithms to provide a 2D representation of the genebank genotype data.
‘Through the client interface, researchers can input criteria and extract a world-map-like view of plant material contained in the genebank,’ he said.
Results from the AGG dataset can be displayed in many kinds of views such as geographical, plant pedigree disease or pesticide resistant traits, and also highlight variety duplicates.
Gingerbread leverages the genetic profiling of the AGG’s collection, which was funded through a $30M strategic partnership between Agriculture Victoria and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, to unlock the potential of AGG resources for Australian grain growers.
Over 50,000 genotypes have already been publicly released by the partnership and can be accessed on the Harvard Dataverse.
Mr Goonesekera intends to contact researchers and breeders to help with Gingerbread’s beta-testing phase early next year.
Learn more about the higher education program, the AGG and the AGG Strategic Partnership at agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet is ready to take to the skies and support hardworking ground crews ahead of another high-risk fire season this summer.

This year’s fleet features 54 aircraft and includes two new fixed wing aircraft with infrared capabilities which can capture higher quality images than ever before, enabling better decision making and more accurate mapping.

Two Large Air Tankers will be based at Avalon Airport, and two high-volume Aircranes with the capacity to carry 10,000 litres of water will be positioned at Essendon and Moorabbin.

A dedicated Super Puma helicopter has returned to the skies to fight fires at night through firebombing, supported by an Air Attack Supervision aircraft that provides critical fire detection and observation at night.

This fleet unveiling follows the launch of 15 regional aircraft which started their service period early last month.

A call when needed fleet of more than 100 aircraft is also available including Black Hawk Helicopters, and Victoria can request additional aircraft from the National Fleet.

The latest Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Summer indicates south-west and western Victoria, including north central, east central and south-west Gippsland are at an increased fire risk due to underlying dryness.

This includes the northern slopes of the Otways, Mt Buangor State Park, Wombat State Forest and Central Highlands, parts of Mornington Peninsula, the Kinglake and Yarra Ranges and parts of Eildon. The remaining parts of the state are forecast to have normal fire risk this summer.

Aircraft can be moved across the state according to risk and have already responded to several fires since starting their service period in October – a month earlier than usual due to increased fire risk.

Aircraft play a key role in supporting emergency services workers on the ground, which includes thousands of dedicated emergency services workers from across the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and other agencies.

Victorians are urged to make sure they have a fire plan for their home and anywhere they’re travelling this summer.

For more information on how you can prepare for fires and other emergencies, download the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au. People can also create a fire plan online customised to their needs and sharable with family and friends via fireplanner.vic.gov.au

More families are discovering the magic of Victoria’s beaches this summer with free activities that get families outdoors and staying active without stretching the household budget.

Bookings are now open for more than 100 free activities being delivered as part of the Summer by the Sea program for 2026.  

The program runs from 3 to 18 January across Victoria’s coastline, giving people the chance to discover the amazing coastal and marine environments locally or where they are holidaying.  

Summer by the Sea combines fun and education through a wide range of activities, where participants can learn about coastal and marine environments and how to protect them for future generations. 

Program highlights include the ever popular rockpool rambles, becoming a Citizen Scientist, searching for sea slugs in San Remo, learning about First Nations cultural heritage, going on a seaweed safari in Werribee and canoeing and snorkelling in Anglesea.

Summer by the Sea is proudly supported by coastal land managers, community groups and conservation agencies across Victoria.

The theme for 2026 is ‘The coast, the sea, and our community’, reflecting the value and importance of community in how beautiful local places are cared for.

For further information and to make a booking, please visit marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs.  

More Victorians get the skills and training they need for a career in local government, following a successful first year of the Earn and Learn pilot program.

The Earn and Learn program has been made possible by a $6.3 million investment from the state government for a two-year pilot program, which enables universities to deliver educational courses to council staff that address essential workforce shortages in Victorian councils.

Four universities are delivering the program, with courses including `leading and mentoring’ at RMIT, `critical thinking and sustainability’ at Swinburne University, and `mental health and resilience’ at Victoria University.

These courses will be joined by a new course from next year – `change management’ at Federation University.

Next year’s program will also work towards developing on-the-job learning pathways at local councils, which may include apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, and degree apprenticeships.

These models will be designed to ensure they meet the specific needs of local government, meet industry standards for each role, and provide assistance and support to maximise of employee retention rates.

The program will provide the skills required for a career in local government and deliver important services in areas such as civil engineering, urban planning, building surveying, environmental health, IT and cybersecurity.

All 79 local Victorian councils are eligible to participate in the Earn and Learn program to help address skills shortages across the state and deliver key services and projects.

For more info visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-partnerships/earnandlearnprogram

The state government and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) have awarded the winners of the annual Split Second film competition.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne has announced Melbourne-based Stacey Park and Shane Senanayake were this year’s winners, impressing the judging panel with their innovative and impactful storytelling.

The competition invites Victorian creatives aged 18 to 30 to submit their attention-grabbing concepts for road safety aimed at young drivers.

Each winner receives a $5000 cash prize and a production budget of $45,000 to focus on low-level speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.

Stacey’s short film ‘Keep the Tempo’, uses the precision and rhythm of Korean drumming as a powerful metaphor for road safety, creatively visualising how even a slight increase in speed can throw everything off balance.

Shane’s film uses humour in ‘Unusual Behaviours’, to highlight the flawed logic behind not wearing a seatbelt – comparing it to growing up in a town where no one wears pants – to remind viewers of the importance of seatbelts and that wearing them should never be optional.

Both winners will receive mentorship from The Taboo Group and Truce Films to develop their scripts for screening in February 2025.

Visit tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/split-second for more information about the TAC Split Second competition.

Australia needs permanent solutions to energy affordability, not just band-aids, says Rewiring Australia.

Rewiring Australia says the federal government must make long term investments to slash bills, rather than relying on temporary relief such as the now axed energy rebates.

“This rebate was always a short term bandaid. It softens bills for a year, then disappears, while households are still stuck with gas and inefficient appliances that keep costs high. If the government wants real cost of living relief, it should fund an Electrify Everything Loans Scheme for low income homes and their landlords so they can install solar, batteries and efficient electric appliances with zero interest, deferred repayment loans secured on the property and repaid when the home is sold,” Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom said.

“For renters to get the benefit of policies like three free hours of daytime electricity from next year, many homes will need a switchboard upgrade. A loan attached to the home would let landlords and low income households get their properties ready for the energy future so people see real, permanent bill cuts instead of another short term rebate.”

Under Rewiring Australia’s proposed Electrify Everything Loans Scheme, which was developed in collaboration with Dr Bruce Chapman, the architect of the HECs scheme, the federal government would offer inflation-indexed, deferred repayment loans secured on the property title so owners and landlords can pay for solar, batteries, efficient electric appliances and necessary switchboard upgrades. The loan would be indexed and repaid when the property is sold, so low income households and renters can cut bills and emissions without facing large upfront costs.

The Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) has raised alarm that Australia’s newly constituted National Food Council (NFC) is overwhelmingly dominated by corporate agribusiness interests, following a meeting last week between the Who Decides Food? campaign and senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

Despite DAFF initiating the meeting, AFSA says discussions revealed a “deeply concerning level of denial” about the council’s composition and its implications for the development of the National Food Security Strategy.

“The National Food Council is a textbook case of corporate capture dressed up as expertise,” says AFSA Focal Point for Farmers, Tammi Jonas.

“What DAFF calls ‘expertise’ is in reality a narrow group of actors whose business models depend on the very systems that make our food less secure, less just, and more vulnerable,” Jonas continues.

AFSA says the NFC is dominated by major industry and export-oriented institutions, including:

• Bega Group (valued at approx. $3.5 billion)
• The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, representing just 11 companies controlling 50% of Australia’s fresh produce
• The National Retail Association
• Grain Trade Australia
• The National Farmers’ Federation’s interim CEO
• Academics tied to agribusiness accelerators and commodity-export sectors

“One First Nations representative and one union representative cannot meaningfully counterbalance an entire governance structure built around capital accumulation rather than community nourishment,” Jonas states.

According to AFSA, the Assistant Secretary claimed during the meeting that he did not see where corporate interests were represented on the NFC.

“To suggest that bodies like Bega Group, the Fresh Produce Alliance, or the National Retail Association are not corporate interests defies logic,” says Jonas. “It’s bureaucratic gaslighting — and it’s dangerous.”

AFSA says DAFF also insisted that council members are participating “as individuals, not representatives,” rendering their organisational affiliations irrelevant. However, in an article published by The Weekly Times earlier this week, the businesses and organisations represented on the National Food Council were listed alongside their corporate and personal interest in the Council.

“This linguistic sleight of hand erases power and denies the material interests shaping the council,” Jonas says. “It’s how corporate capture is normalised.”

DAFF confirmed the National Food Security Strategy will be drafted internally, with the NFC providing advice — but only within its current, corporatised membership. DAFF indicated no plans to expand the council to include:

• small-scale farmers
• food-justice or community food organisations
• independent public health experts
• broader First Nations food sovereignty leadership
• Climate change and environmental organisations
• workers beyond a single union representative

Public consultation will be offered, but AFSA says this does not constitute meaningful participation.

“Public submissions are a democratic minimum — not decision-making power,” Jonas said. “If a strategy is written by a department guided by corporate actors while communities get pushed to a submissions portal, the result is predictable: more consolidation, more export dependence, fewer farmers, and greater vulnerability.”

AFSA argues the NFC fails the basic test of democratic food governance: community control.

“Who decides food? Right now, the answer is clear: those who profit from large-scale agribusiness and export markets,” Jonas said. “Meanwhile, the people who feed local communities, care for Country, build resilient food systems and fight for justice are sidelined.”

AFSA is calling for a National Food Council built on:

• food sovereignty
• agroecology
• democratic representation
• First Nations leadership

The Who Decides Food campaign  is urging government to immediately:

• expand and rebalance the NFC membership, free from major industry dominance;
• ensure transparent appointment processes and clear criteria for representation;
• and centre community-led resilience, not export-market growth, in the National Food Security Strategy.

“Australia urgently needs a National Food Council — but it must serve communities, not corporations,” Jonas said. “The current model is unacceptable. But together, we can change it,” concludes Jonas.

Victoria has taken another important step towards building a shared understanding of our history and addressing past injustices, with a formal apology to First Peoples in the Victorian Parliament.

Premier Jacinta Allan’s apology today acknowledged the impacts upon First Peoples since colonisation.

The apology is a key recommendation of Victoria’s nation-leading Yoorrook Justice Commission and was a commitment of the State’s first Treaty.

This apology, along with Victoria’s Treaty, is a chance for all Victorians to move forward together. It’s a pathway to acknowledging the past and making real, practical changes to achieve better outcomes for First Peoples and close the gap.

The apology is available to view on the Parliament of Victoria website at parliament.vic.gov.au.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the apology was about unity and healing, and it laid the foundation for practical changes through Treaty to improve outcomes and close the gap.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the apology was an important first step in Victoria’s Treaty era towards a shared understanding of “our complex history and a better future for all Victorians”.

Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support customers are encouraged to prepare for payment and service changes over the holiday season. 

Services Australia is reminding customers their regular payment and reporting dates may change due to public holidays in December and January. 

 All Services Australia service centres and most call centres will also close on public holidays on the 25^th, 26^th and 29^th of December 2025 and on Thursday 1^st January 2026. 

Services Australia spokesperson Chelsea Kviklys said people can check for changes to their payment and reporting dates using their Centrelink online account through myGov or the Services Australia website.  

“You may need to report to Services Australia earlier than usual because of the public holidays,” Ms Kviklys said.  

 “We may also pay you earlier than usual ahead of a public holiday. It’s important to remember this isn’t an extra payment – it’s your regular payment paid early. 

 “To plan ahead, you can check for any changes to your reporting or payment date using your Centrelink online account through myGov. Our service and payment changes are also listed on our website.” 

 Ms Kviklys said Services Australia’s online and self-service options will continue to be available 24/7 over the holiday period.  

“People can still use self-service options all through the holidays. You’ll be able to jump into your online account or Express Plus mobile app or use our phone self-service lines at all times.” 

Claiming Medicare benefits at the doctor’s or registering as an organ donor online will also continue as normal. 

Medicare services for health professionals will also remain uninterrupted over the holiday period.  

For more information about changes to services, including revised reporting and payment dates, head online to servicesaustralia.gov.au/holidays

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has appointted Skye Cappuccio as its next Chief Executive Officer. Ms Cappuccio will commence in the role on February 3, 2026.

COSBOA Chair, Matthew Addison, said the board was delighted to appoint a leader with deep experience in advocacy, sector reform and membership-based organisations.

“Skye is an accomplished chief executive with a strong record of delivering policy impact, strengthening organisations and building trusted relationships across government and industry,” Mr Addison said.

“Her perspective and expertise make her exceptionally well placed to lead COSBOA into its next phase of growth. The Board is confident Skye will bring fresh energy and a forward-looking approach that supports our members and the small businesses they represent.”

Ms Cappuccio joins COSBOA following an extensive leadership career in the health and not-for-profit sectors, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Optometry Australia, where she led national transformation, strengthened member value, and delivered significant advocacy outcomes.

Reflecting on her appointment, Ms Cappuccio said she was honoured to serve Australia’s small business sector and the associations that represent them.

“This role deeply excites me. COSBOA has cemented itself as a strong and respected voice for small business, and it is a privilege to help build on that foundation,” Ms Cappuccio said.

“Small businesses are integral to Australia’s economy and our community fabric. Having grown up in a family business, I understand the pressures and opportunities they face. Under my leadership, COSBOA will remain focused on strong, ethical and fair representation, and on championing the conditions small businesses need to thrive.”

Ms Cappuccio said she looks forward to working with COSBOA’s member associations to continue expanding the organisation’s influence and supporting the diverse small businesses they represent.

Mr Addison said Ms Cappuccio’s appointment comes at an important time for COSBOA, with a strong agenda ahead focused on enabling small businesses to contribute fully to Australia’s economic and productivity growth.

“2026 will be a significant year for COSBOA as we continue advancing policy settings that allow small businesses to do what they do best: drive productivity, employment and economic contribution across every community,” Mr Addison said.

“Skye brings the capability, insight and collaborative approach needed to strengthen COSBOA’s influence and ensure the voices of our members and small businesses remain central in national decision-making.”

For more information on COSBOA, visit: cosboa.org.au.

Public transport is free for more than one million young Victorians from January 1, with the new Youth myki now available to purchase online.

Available for purchase on the Transport Victoria website, the Youth myki ensures all passengers aged under 18 can travel for free across the network from the start of next year.

The youth myki was announced as part of the Victorian Budget 2025/26 to deliver free public transport to children – ensuring cheaper school runs, more affordable weekends and one less thing for families to worry about.

A yearly student pass currently costs $755, but from next year children can travel for free and for a family with three children under 18, that’s a saving of $2265 a year.

The Youth myki will also be available to purchase at staffed stations from Saturday, December 27.

The new Youth myki cards feature a striking design that was created by 11-year-old Victorian student Charlie, that captures all the ways young Victorians will be able to use the cards for free next year.

On 1 January, new Youth myki cards will be activated, providing children free travel across the public transport network.

All young people under 18 years old are eligible for a Youth myki card, no matter where they live. On booked V/Line services the Youth myki card number can be used to access free travel. On non-myki regional buses, children can use Youth myki as a flash pass.

From 1 January 2026, more than 650,000 seniors and close to 300,000 carers and disability support pensioners will also be able to catch a train, tram or bus for free on weekends. Passengers must carry their proof of concession and continue to tap on and off as usual, but they won’t be charged on weekends.

Families already have access to free public transport across Victoria every weekend until 1 February 2026 to celebrate the opening of the Metro Tunnel. 

The state government is helping emergency services brigades and groups across Victoria to boost volunteer numbers and provide them the tools and skills they need to keep Victorians safe.

Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward has announced the recipients of this year’s Valuing Volunteers Program grants, with almost $1.4 million to support programs that recognise the vital role volunteers play.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) will receive close to $540,000 – with more than half allocated to support the CFA Firefighter Championships, a long-standing tradition that brings volunteers together to compete against each other and strengthen camaraderie across regional communities.

Funding will also support CFA programs that grow its volunteer base, promote diversity and increase rural participation.

In recognition of the trauma and hazards volunteers face in the role, the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) will receive $280,000 for health and wellbeing programs that support the physical and psychological resilience of volunteers.

Life Saving Victoria will receive $275,000 for its Volunteer Capability and Support program, which builds skills through training and development – from basic first aid to advanced resuscitation.

The Victoria State Council for Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) and independent volunteer marine search and rescue units will share $200,000 for recruitment and recognition projects, new uniforms and campaigns to attract more volunteers.

The Emergency Services Foundation will receive $90,000 to expand its Mental Health Matters project, delivering 12 workshops to regional and rural volunteers and their families to help them better respond to mental health challenges.

Since 2014, the Valuing Volunteers Program has provided more than $15 million for initiatives that recognise and support the critical role emergency services volunteers play in protecting Victorian communities.

The state government is supporting Melbourne researchers who have discovered a groundbreaking RNA treatment targeting rare childhood diseases, including bone marrow failure syndrome.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson has visited St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research to meet Associate Professor Andrew Deans, the local researcher behind an innovative RNA therapy that could transform the lives of children with rare blood disorders.

In a major breakthrough, the cutting-edge RNA Prime Editing technology corrects the genetic defect that causes life-threatening blood disorders such as Fanconi anemia, potentially eliminating the need for risky and costly bone marrow transplants.

Fanconi anemia is a rare, genetic disorder that causes bone marrow failure and affects children from a very young age. About 190 young Australians are currently diagnosed with the syndrome. Sadly, more than half will die from the disease and its related conditions.

The new treatment is progressing through safety studies, in partnership with Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision – an organisation dedicated to finding a cure for bone marrow failure syndrome, inspired by Maddie’s tragic death in 2015 – with the aim of launching a world-first clinical trial for patients.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson said it was exciting to see this research rapidly advancing towards clinical trials, offering real hope for children and families battling these devastating diseases.

“Our medical research and health technology sector is the largest sector in Australia – supporting more than 30,000 jobs and enabling Victorian scientists to change lives around the world.”