That’s why this Budget gives a boost to healthcare across our regions, including:
- $162 million for better aged care services across regional Victoria, to build new public aged care services in Cohuna, Maffra and Numurkah.
- $51 million to continue operating local public health units across regional Victoria, to deliver public health prevention, protection, regulation and emergency response activities.
- $44 million to deliver new PET scanners, including at regional hospitals in Ballarat, Shepparton, Warrnambool and Wangaratta, improving our capacity to assess cancers, neurological and cardiovascular diseases for all Victorians.
- $30 million for a new ambulance station for Armstrong Creek supporting reduced ambulance response times across Greater Geelong and the surrounding regions.
For many regional Victorians, finding mental health support often means leaving home.
And if you live far from a major regional town or centre, the closest place to access specialist care and support could be an hour’s drive away. This Budget continues our work to build our mental health system from the ground up, with:
- $157 million for critical bed‑based mental health services across our state including more Hospital in the Home beds for Barwon Health, improving in‑home mental health care for acutely unwell residents across the Geelong region.
- $590,000 to continue delivering social and emotional wellbeing initiatives in regional Victoria, including a suicide prevention program for Aboriginal young people in the Geelong region.
- A new Mental Health and Wellbeing local service in Leongatha, improving access to mental health services in Gippsland.
Reviewed 19 May 2023