Central Ranges : Victorian State Budget 2009-2010

Victorian State Budget 2009-2010

Mon, May 4, 2009; by Bill Coppinger.

The Victorian State Budget for 2000-2010 was presented to Parliament today Tuesday May 5th 2009 by the Hon. John Lenders MP.

Victorians will be able to put their questions about the 2009-10 Victorian State Budget directly to Treasurer John Lenders in an online chat forum to be hosted on the Premier of Victoria's website – www.premier.vic.gov.au

Treasurer Lenders will be online Wednesday night between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, Wednesday 6 May, answering questions about the Victorian State Budget.

According to the Treasurer, John Lenders, the 2009-2010 Budget is focussed on "securing up to 35,000 jobs next financial year to fight the impact of the Global Financial Crisis... the focus of a record infrastructure investment in the 2009 State Budget.

This budget has a number of very significant implications for LLEN Members and stakeholders.

As a service to members we have provided a set of focused links to key budget areas and included YouTube presentations from key Ministers.

Included are links to full budget documentation as well as summarised Press Releases from a range of Ministerial Portfolios relevant to the work of the LLEN.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it an assessment of the details of the announcements.

We encourage LLEN members and stakeholders to review, digest and comment on areas relevant to their specific field[s].

We have established a separate discussion forum topic to raise questions and discuss issues.

Treasurer Lenders will be online Wednesday night between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, Wednesday 6 May, [follow this link] answering questions about the Victorian State Budget.

Budget Links:

Victorian State Budget 2000-2010
Budget Paper No. 2 Strategy and Outlook
Budget paper No. 3 Service Delivery [All of the Education, Human Services, Industry and Infrastructure links]

Budget Fact Sheets directly relevant to CRLLEN Members

Ministerial Portfolio Key Initiatives 2009 and beyond

According to the Education Minister Bronwyn Pike ," the 2009 State Budget showed the Brumby Labor Government was providing strong leadership in tough global economic times to see Victoria through and build the very best education and early childhood system for the future."

Highlights of this year’s investment in education include:

$402 million in funding to rebuild, renovate or extend schools across the State, securing 690 jobs in construction. Combined with the Rudd Federal Government’s investment in schools, 5000 jobs in construction will be secured;
$13.6 million for additional staff to respond to growth in demand for kindergarten places;
$57.7 million for the continued employment of 200 teaching and learning coaches to build capacity of teachers, and 50 Ultranet workers to help teachers get the most out of 21st century technology;
$1.17 billion to lift teacher quality through higher pay and more support in the classroom, including more planning time and increased tuition time for secondary school students – for the more than 40,000 teachers employed in the state school system;
$15.2 million to meet increased demand for the VET in Schools program to build skills and create jobs;
$7 million to invest in more computers in schools to give students the skills they need in the 21st century world;
$2.5 million for the Community Engagement Project, which will build awareness about 21st century teaching and learning practices; and
$38 million for a range of education reforms to support the achievement of Council of Australian Government targets in key areas such as literacy and numeracy, teacher quality and closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Vocational Education and Training in Schools

To build skills and create jobs $15.2 million has been allocated to meet increased demand for places in the successful VET in Schools program.

Ms Pike said Victorians also would gain vital funding for schools and early childhood services through a range of national education and early childhood partnership agreements with the Rudd Federal Government. These include:

$496.5 million over five years for the National Secondary School Computer Fund to provide computers for secondary schools with students in Years 9 to 12, as part of the Digital Education Revolution;
$275.3 million over seven years through the National Partnership on Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities to drive improvements for education in low socio-economic status (SES) school communities and improve student outcomes;
$26.8 million over two years through the National Partnership on Literacy and Numeracy;
$24 million over four years through the National Partnership on Improving Teacher Quality to improve teacher and school leader quality;
$210.6 million over five years through the National Partnership on Early Childhood Education to support the delivery of universal access to 15 hours per week of early childhood education for all children in the year before school, by 2013; and
$22 million over six years for the National Partnership on Indigenous Early Childhood Development to improve the outcomes for Indigenous children by addressing the high levels of disadvantage they currently experience.

Of note to members will be the announcement of the Gisborne Secondary College modernisation project.

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

1.3 Billion - Building 21st Century School System
Better Schools, More Jobs
- 402 million for new schools and better facilities
- $128 million for school modernisation - $ 6 Million allocated to Gisborne Secondary College [CRLLEN Member School]
The Hon. Bronwyn Pike, Minister for Education on YouTube

MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION

MINISTER FOR REGIONAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

$120.9 million skills boost for the jobs of the future

Key skills and employment initiatives in the 2009 State Budget include:

$25 million to extend the Apprenticeship/Traineeship Completion Bonus program for another 12 months. Under this program, employers are paid $3500 for each eligible apprentice and $1300 for each eligible trainee they take on. The bonus responds to the current economic climate and provides employers with additional support to train Victorians;
$3 million to plan and design an Aviation Training Academy to be based at Melbourne Airport including an aviation maintenance centre, a research wing and a separate pilot training facility in regional Victoria;
$66.9 million towards a new student management system to commence a landmark upgrade of administrative systems across TAFEs to help prepare for implementation of the Government’s $316 million skills reform package, Securing Jobs for your Future;
$10.2 million for New Workforce Partnerships to boost the employment of people facing systemic workforce barriers by linking them with employment opportunities. At least 1150 disadvantaged jobseekers will benefit from the program over two years;
$2 million for maintenance of state-owned buildings that provide Adult Community and Further Education services; and
$13.8 million for a new Skills to Transition program to support the securing of training places for up to 6400 Victorian workers who want to retrain or who are in industry transition.

Minister Allan on YouTube

MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

8.3 million Autism State Plan to support Victorians with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Critical programs funded as part of the $8.3 million package are:
- $4.2 million for mental health service enhancement to improve service quality, support staff training and provide greater access to mental health services particularly for young children and adolescents; and
- $4.1 million to improve support to pre-school children and young Victorians of school age, and to provide staff development opportunities including secondary consultation and mentoring.
Minister Morand on YouTube

MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, MINISTER FOR HOUSING, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

56.1 MILLION TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP FOR ABORIGINAL VICTORIANS
4 Million to extend Neighborhood House opening hours.
A further $1 million will be provided to expand Koori maternity services at three locations.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Richard Wynne, said the Brumby Labor Government would build on the National Apology through practical reconciliation, such as support and training for Indigenous Victorians and additional measures to help close the gap in life expectancy.

Minister Wynne on YouTube

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

$150.2 million regional hospital building program
- Alexandra Hospital and ambulance station redevelopment: $19 million to redevelop the Alexandra District Hospital, providing a new integrated hospital and community health service. The redevelopment will include new acute beds, emergency stabilisation, operating suite, day stay facilities, community health and administration/support facilities. A new Alexandra Ambulance Station will be built and collocated on the site;