All Victorians deserve to be safe in their homes, feel supported by their intimate partners, families and carers, and have opportunities to be active and engaged in their local communities. We know that inclusive, connected and empowered communities that are free from violence are also stronger during emergencies. Victorians with the right supports around them will be better equipped to bounce back when times are tough. We can support our communities to thrive now and in the future by:
- helping families to stay together
- ensuring access to stable housing
- encouraging social participation and respectful relationships.
Over the next four years, we will focus on building the foundations of safe and resilient communities through investments in housing and community infrastructure. We will prioritise primary prevention and early intervention approaches to stop disadvantage and violence from occurring, worsening, or becoming entrenched. We will also use tailored, culturally specific, or place-based initiatives to support children, young people and families at risk of harm or hardship. We will strengthen connectedness within communities.
Specifically, we will:
- continue to increase the supply and quality of housing options for Victorians, including by progressing the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and other large capital programs
- improve the public housing system to ensure quality customer service and safe, modern homes
- renew, replace and grow specialist disability accommodation
- begin delivering Australia’s biggest ever urban renewal project – retiring and developing Melbourne’s 44 ageing public housing estates
- improve tailored housing support to people and families at risk of homelessness, including by:
- delivering the Housing First for Young People Leaving Residential Care initiative
- strengthening support and short-term accommodation that enables victim-survivors of family violence to stay at home safely or find suitable housing.
- deliver upgrades to scout halls, facilities for ex-service organisation spaces and other community infrastructure
- continue leading the state’s 10-year agenda to build a Victoria free from family violence, including by designing and delivering coordinated primary prevention initiatives and measures to keep people who use violence in view, engaged and responsible for stopping their violence
- deliver evidence-informed early help family services and family preservation and reunification services
- deliver cost-of-living relief, including through setting up food relief hubs in Morwell and Ballarat, the Digital Seniors Card and Veterans Card, free pads and tampon machines in public sites, and the Energy Bill Relief Fund
- deliver mentoring, employment and education, alcohol and other drugs outreach, housing support, diversion and family therapy programs for young Victorians at risk of disengagement, homelessness or contact with the justice system
- modernise our emergency management arrangements to ensure people most at risk are well supported before, during and after emergencies
- implement a Pride in Ageing program to address the needs of ageing LGBTIQA+ Victorians and better support their connections to communities.