By Daniela De Martino, MP for Monbulk

The 2024-25 State Budget was handed down on 7 May. It’s a Budget that is dedicated to helping Victorian families. Whether it’s cost of living support, giving our kids the best start in life or record funding for our healthcare system, the Allan Labor Government is investing in our community.

• School Saving Bonus – We’re providing a one-off School Saving Bonus to help cover the cost of school-related expenses for all students in state schools and from low-income families from the start of 2025.
• Glasses for Kids – This budget is tripling our free Glasses for Kids program. This investment will help 74,000 more kids by providing free vision screening and prescription glasses for students who need it.
• Free School Breakfast – We’re making sure no student starts the day hungry – with free, healthy and nutritious breakfasts coming to every government school to help families with the cost of living. An investment of $21.1 million will expand the School Breakfast Clubs Program and will see 150 additional extra schools invited to join the program at the beginning of next year, before rolling out to remaining schools from June 2025.
• Get Active Kids Vouchers – The popular Get Active Kids vouchers are funded once again in this Budget! We’re investing $6 million to provide up to $200 to help eligible families with the cost of sporting club registration, uniforms and equipment.
• Cost of Living Support – We are continuing to provide free kinder, free dental care in government schools, free nursing, midwifery and teaching degrees, free pads and tampons in up to 700 public places, and capping council rates to the Consumer Price Index.
• Hospital Funding – With the biggest multi-year investment in our health system in Victoria’s history, the $8.8 billion long term investment will mean our hospitals have the long-term certainty they need over the coming years to plan for the future. In exciting news, the new works at The Angliss Hospital are set to commence shortly – a new 32-bed inpatient unit and four new operating theatres and space for out-patient services.
• Storms Recovery – This summer alone, the SES responded to over 10,000 requests for assistance. In this budget, we are supporting communities – like ours – recently affected by catastrophic weather events, with $302 million to help them rebuild and recover.

Each investment we’ve made is an investment in the people of the Dandenong Ranges and foothills. With this Budget, the Allan Labor Government is continuing to help local families recover and rebuild.