Healthy, diverse and thriving communities
Key issues: Supporting our young families and senior Victorians; housing
Current situation
Local government understands the importance of supporting young families and senior Victorians. It continues to formally embrace this through a range of plans, infrastructure provision, service delivery and support.
What we need from the state government
- Immediate review of the State Government resourcing of the maternal and child health service and an ongoing commitment to the 50:50 partnership with local government in the provision of this essential universal service
- Review the MCH Key Age and Stage Framework, aligning and including evidence-based interventions, time allocation per consultation and funding of program hours per child, alongside the development of a comprehensive MCH workforce strategy for the sector to deliver the service now and into the future
- Commitment to work with local government to resource ageing infrastructure used for the programs and services that support young families and older people. Including recognition of the unprecedented volume of construction required for Three-Year-Old Kindergarten reform
- Commitment to work with local government on workforce planning to ensure the continuation of essential services such as maternal and child health, early years education and care and community aged care are available to support young families and older people
- Partnering with and investing in local government to plan and coordinate social recovery from COVID-19 for senior Victorians to age well in place.
Housing
Current situation
The significant shortage of social and affordable housing across Victoria is exacerbating financial and emotional stresses for many families, households and individuals.
What we need from the state government
- Formalised partnership arrangements between state and local government, underpinned by a state-wide agreement (Compact) which includes a mechanism to engage across the range of state agencies that influence social and affordable housing policy
- Recognition that councils are essential partners in the creation and ongoing sustainability of social and affordable housing., and that they must be properly resourced to fulfill necessary planning, support and community development functions to support their communities
- Implementation of planning mechanisms that empower councils to seek mandatory affordable housing contributions from developers and zoning options which require developments to include affordable housing options
- Shared planning around building renewal and development of state owned and managed public housing to ensure they conform to local planning schemes and are fully integrated into the urban landscape, including environmentally sustainable design
- Improving wrap-around outreach services for people with complex needs experiencing homelessness
- Development of a shared social and affordable housing data and monitoring system that provides transparency and a basis for joint planning
- A state-wide public awareness and community education campaign, matched with municipal engagement to encourage communities to be actively involved the planning and delivery of social and affordable housing.