PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST IN NORTHERN METRO 

The Andrews Labor Government is putting patients first in Northern Metro. 

Across our nation – and around the world – the pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on health systems. From a sharp increase of critical COVID patients to disrupted care, resulting in longer hospital recovery time, the last two years have really knocked our health system around. 

When we came to government, we put an end to the war on our paramedics. We took ambulance response times from the worst in our history to the best. Now – just like we did before – we’ll ease the pandemic pressure on our hospitals and our healthcare workers.  

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. 

Our healthcare workers have been on the frontline of this pandemic, and we know how important it is that we support them into the future.  

We’re backing our healthcare workers with training and the extra pair of helping hands they need, so they can give you the very best care. 

That’s why the Budget is delivering funding to train and hire up to 7,000 new healthcare workers, including 5,000 nurses. 

We’ll provide 1,125 new Registered Undergraduate Nursing Positions and 75 new Registered Undergraduate Student of Midwifery roles over the next two years, and we’re also recruiting up to 2,000 ex-pat and international healthcare workers through a global workforce recruitment drive.  

Right around the nation, demand for emergency services is at an all-time high. Our Triple Zero call-takers and dispatchers are dealing with unprecedented call volumes.  

But when you call for an ambulance, every Victorian should have the confidence one will arrive. That’s why we’re delivering another 90 paramedics – which means we've added 790 extra paramedics to the workforce since we came to government.  

And to help our frontline workers reach Victorians who need help faster, we’re investing $333 million to add nearly 400 new staff to increase Triple Zero call-taking and dispatch capacity for Triple Zero services, including ambulances, and training more operators to allocate calls across the state. 

We’re also going to make sure that every local community gets the health infrastructure and services they deserve. That’s why this Budget invests $2.9 billion to build new hospitals and deliver upgrades to health services in every corner of our state. 

By expanding our emergency departments, adding more surgical beds to get more elective surgeries done and increasing maternity care services – this Budget will ensure more Victorians get the very best of care, close to home.  

As we roll-out our Pandemic Repair Plan to make sure people in Northern Metro get the care they deserve, we're also getting on with delivering the schools, roads and public transport services they rely on. 

You can't get a first-rate education, in a second-rate classroom. It’s why we’re going to upgrade Merri Creek Primary School, with $5.3 million to deliver a new senior building and rooftop learning space – because under an Andrews Labor Government, we're giving every child the opportunity to achieve their full potential.  

When students fall behind, we want to give them every chance to catch up. That's why we're investing $895,000 in the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement and Project REAL which provides a flexible learning program for vulnerable kids in Hume and Moreland – so no young person is left behind. 

To make sure every young Victorian gets the education they need for the career they want, the new VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate will replace VCAL, offering students more choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing students to jump into further study, training at TAFE or work as soon as they leave school. 

The VCAL reforms will save many Victorian families up to $1,000 by cutting out-of-pocket costs, with students no longer having to pay for essential learning materials for VET studies. 

In this Budget, we also want to give our multicultural communities the chance to celebrate everything they hold dear, with those they hold close. So we're investing over $6.4 million to ensure that Victorians of all cultures, faiths and backgrounds can hold festivals and celebrations in great community spaces – including $25,000 to upgrade Eolian Hall in Carlton North to support the Italian community celebrating their culture and connecting with each other across the inner North.  

We’re also continuing to invest in the Arden Precinct to begin the transformation of the area into a busy employment, innovation and residential hub located on the doorstep of the new Arden station. The Andrews Labor Government will also keep delivering improvements to our public transport network, including a new accessible tram stop at La Trobe Street, in the CBD.   

Across our city and state, we're giving our performers and creatives great spaces to work and perform in, as part of a $17.5 million package in building infrastructure for the creative industries. We’re also supporting the NGV’s successful exhibition model including continuing the NGV summer program and the NGV Triennial with $32.1 million in funding – boosting our creative industries, and creating jobs in the arts and in construction, all while Victorians enjoy the best entertainment. 

With this Budget, we’re getting on with delivering for all Victorians.   

Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Sheena Watt  

“This Budget invests in more nurses and midwives, so we can make sure our health care system is there for everyone when they need it most.”  

“Teachers at Merri Creek Primary School work incredibly hard to educate and support their students –now thanks to this Budget, they’ll have a new senior building and rooftop classrooms to keep delivering a first-rate education.”