22 MAY 2025
Tuesday’s 2025-26 state budget, the second delivered by the Allen government and the first from Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, has delivered a mixed result for Aboriginal Victorians.
While VACCA welcomes the announcement of funding for family strengthening and reunification initiatives, early childhood education, housing and mental health supports, significant gaps remain.
Of primary concern is the lack of clear investment in Aboriginal-specific family violence programs. We know that Aboriginal women are disproportionately impacted by family violence, and that family violence is one of the key drivers of child removal.
To meet Closing the Gap commitments and address the growing number of Aboriginal children in out of home care, there needs to be continued investment in Aboriginal-led family violence support services to stem the flow of removal and ensure that women and children are safe at home.
Funding for justice initiatives in this budget have largely been directed towards tertiary supports for those already within the system. VACCA has consistently advocated for increased investment into Aboriginal-led early intervention and prevention programs to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people within the justice system. We know that diversion and early intervention programs work, and must be adequately funded.
“Valuing and investing in our children and families through evidence based, Aboriginal-led solutions is how we achieve meaningful progress on Closing the Gap,” says VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett. “Funding self-determined family, health and education services and providing continued investment in child protection reform will have a significant impact on the lives of Aboriginal children and families in Victoria now and into the future.”
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MURIEL BAMBLETT, VACCA CEO
“Strengthening families to stay together, protecting our Boorais (babies), and ensuring families have access to culturally safe and supported early years education will change the trajectories of so many Aboriginal children for the better.”
“Family violence is one of the key drivers of child removal. If the government is serious about meeting its Closing the Gap commitments and addressing the growing number of Aboriginal children in out of home care, we need to ensure there is continued investment into Aboriginal-led family violence support services to ensure women and children are safe at home.”
“We need to see diversion and early intervention programs adequately funded. Victoria’s recently revised bail laws disproportionately affect Aboriginal people, and we will see greater numbers of Aboriginal people incarcerated as a result. The focus needs to be on preventing contact with the justice system, not criminalising traumatized people.”
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FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0439 117 408 E: bethc@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.