Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, today joined with Deputy Mayor Cr Amy Johnson to announce that City of Ballarat was successful in their grant application to develop a new sensory friendly play zone at Ballarat’s Victoria Park Inclusive Play Space.
Ballarat will benefit from state-of-the-art hospital services as the massive hospital redevelopment starts to take shape. Minister for Health Martin Foley today unveiled a first look at the Ballarat Base Hospital’s new support services building and central energy plant which forms part of the second stage of the $541.6 million redevelopment.
The Andrews Labor Government is giving young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians access to additional wellbeing support services located at safe spaces in western Victoria. Minister for Equality Martin Foley today met with young LGBTIQ+ Victorians who will benefit from $3.2 million in funding in the Victorian Budget 2022-23 to support the design and delivery of LGBTIQ+ safe space services.
A community-owned and led early learning centre embracing and embedding Aboriginal perspective into its service is now open to families living in Sebastopol, ensuring more local kindergarten places thanks to an Andrews Labor Government investment. Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle announced the new Yirram Burron centre open, supporting Ballarat’s growing Aboriginal community and combatting existing barriers the community has faced in getting equal access to early childhood education and care.
Casual and contract workers in Ballarat and Western Victoria are being encouraged to sign up to the Andrews Labor Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee before flu season takes hold – giving them a safety net if they become sick and miss work or need to care for a loved one. Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt today visited Federation University to encourage more people to sign up to the Sick Pay Guarantee and to meet with casual workers who are already benefitting from the program.
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting family-owned agriculture manufacturing business Harwood Grains to create jobs and expand its oat dehulling facility in Ballarat. Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Harwood Grain’s Ballarat headquarters to announce funding through the Regional Jobs Fund, which is enabling the company to consolidate its facility into one site and invest in new production line equipment.
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Ballarat to position itself as a must-visit craft and small batch drink destination with a new hub for distilling and brewing. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today announced a $450,000 investment from the Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund to create the new hub – which will be a tourism drawcard for the region while creating more jobs.
A major investment by one of the largest food manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand is creating a jobs boost in Ballarat, thanks to backing from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula today announced the Labor Government’s support for George Weston Foods’ new Mauri flour mill in Ballarat and production expansion across regional Victoria.
Sovereign Hill will soon boast new cultural and event spaces, generating jobs and attracting more visitors, thanks to a $6 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government. Minster for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula visited the historic Ballarat tourist attraction today to announce the upgrade, funded from the Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
An Australian consulting giant will establish a new office in Ballarat, creating up to 200 jobs in the important regional centre, backed by support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas today announced the establishment of the Ernst & Young (EY) Service Delivery Centre at the Federation University Ballarat Tech Park in Mt Helen.
The Andrews Labor Government is serving up more jobs supporting hospitality venues and tourism in regional Victoria. Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford today announced a $6 million initiative which will provide 240 jobseekers with hospitality and tourism traineeships to help address workforce shortages across the state.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a record investment in the welfare of pets in Ballarat with $11.5 million from the Victorian Budget 2022/23 for a new purpose-built animal shelter.
Ballarat and Grampians patients will have better treatment closer to home for cancer therapy, surgery and mental health as part of the major expansion of health care announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest over $12 billion to put patients first, with a Pandemic Repair Plan for more staff, better hospitals and first-class care.
The Andrews Labor Government is creating better sporting facilities as well as upgrading an RSL hall and a community garden in a bid to revitalise the town of Sebastopol. Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today joined members from the Community Reference Group at MR Power Park in western Victoria to inspect works on the new facilities, backed by more than $1 million funding from the Labor Government’s Spotlight on Sebastopol program.
Women aspiring to become a local councillor are being encouraged to apply for a new program as the Andrews Labor Government continues the push for gender equity in the local government sector.
The Andrews Labor Government will provide fresh and healthy food with the new Ballarat Foodbank Hub, ensuring food relief gets to the people who need it most.
The Andrews Labor Government has stocked Victorian waterways, including in the Ballarat region, with a record 10 million fish over the past year, setting a new nationwide record.