In addition to building state-of-the-art theatres, a women and children’s hub and a new emergency department, the Andrews Labor Government will boost accessibility and safety at the Ballarat Base Hospital by creating two new entrances separating emergency vehicles and the public.

The Andrews Labor Government’s new nursing training ward has officially opened at Australian Catholic University in Ballarat, ensuring local graduates have the skills they need to hit the ground running in healthcare jobs in regional Victoria and across the state.

More regional Victorians recovering from drug and alcohol dependency now have specialised court services and support closer to home with the opening of a dedicated new Drug Court in Ballarat.

The Andrews Labor Government today announced that a Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service will be established in Ballarat and its doors will be open from mid-2023.

The Victorian Government is bringing vaccines to the areas that need them most, by launching a massive community pop-up vaccination program targeting 100 priority postcodes across the state.

The Victorian Government is ensuring people living in Ballarat and the Western region have access to the world-class healthcare they deserve close to home.

More families in Ballarat and around regional Victoria are joining Australia’s largest-ever child and parent research project, helping drive better health outcomes for the next generation of young Victorians.

The local Ballarat community is being encouraged to have a say on the Victorian Government’s $541.6 million redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital.

Support for licensed bars, cafes, hotels and clubs across regional Victoria will continue through September, and other businesses in regional areas will also be supported where ongoing restrictions severely affect operations. With the City of Ballarat entering a seven-day lockdown, all eligible businesses in that local government area will receive Business Costs Assistance Program and Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payments for the last two weeks of September – along with more than 100,000 metropolitan businesses.

With multiple wastewater detections, multiple exposure sites and four positive cases, on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, the City of Ballarat will tonight enter a seven day lock down to slow the spread of the virus in the community.

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $49.2 million to build 162 new supported independent living homes, ensuring Victorians living with mental illness have the security and stability of a home. This includes a project in Ballarat West, delivering 16 new supported independent living homes in Redan for people living with mental illness, as part of the nation-leading Big Housing Build.

A new and expanded mental health and well-being support hub has opened in Ballarat, giving locals the care and support they need on their doorstep, thanks to the Victorian Government.Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health Steve Dimopoulos today opened the new Cooinda Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub, which will provide an array of health and social services including children’s assessments, counselling, and family violence support.

Today, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle welcomed the announcement that Victorians will get the mental health support and care they need, with the Andrews Labor Government to provide additional funding as demand for services increases during current restrictions.

The Victorian Government is taking immediate action to keep people who live in residential disability settings, private aged care residents and staff safe with a vaccination blitz to ensure workers in these vulnerable settings are protected against coronavirus.