The Andrews Labor Government is investing to make the state more inclusive for all Victorians, making popular tourist destinations and community facilities more accessible for people with disability. Today Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison announced that Ballarat Group Training at Barkly Square will receive a grant $100,000 as part of the Labor Government’s Changing Places and Universal Design grants program, aimed at making it easier for all Victorians to take part in community and social activities.

The Andrews Labor Government is helping Ballarat kindergartens to upgrade and improve their centres, giving every Victorian child the best start to life. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced that two Ballarat Kinders have joined the ranks of over 100 other Early Childhood services to benefit from the Building Blocks Improvement grant program.

City of Ballarat Council will receive a valuable investment in the future of its local libraries, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Public Libraries Funding Program. $731,084 is being invested into City of Ballarat’s three public libraries in Wendouree, Ballarat Central and Sebastopol.  

Residents in Ballarat and surrounding areas are benefiting from greater access to justice supports and services thanks to the relocation and upgrade of the Ballarat Justice Service Centre, funded by the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today officially opened the new Justice Service Centre in Camp Street Ballarat, which has replaced the previous Mair Street site to house the growing workforce and provide high quality critical services to those in the region.

The Alfredton Recreation Reserve has been transformed thanks to the Victorian Government, with new practice wickets, an electronic scoreboard, changerooms and more. The upgrade is a huge win for footballers, bowlers and netballers as well as local schools and residents. 

Football has been given a boost in Ballarat with the announcement of State Government funding to the City of Ballarat to upgrade facilities at Pleasant Street Reserve. Detailed design works are underway for the redevelopment of two senior pitches and training area, coaches’ boxes at the Pleasant Street Reserve.

The Andrews Labor Government is helping families get their kids into early childhood learning by creating more three-and four-year-old kindergarten places across Victoria. Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced a $2.25 million Building Blocks capacity building stream grant for the City of Ballarat to create three kinder rooms at a brand new Alfredton (Ballymanus) Community Hub.

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.

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 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.

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.