The Victorian Budget included several welcome initiatives that will assist vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians - More public housing, public school dental care, and focusing on men’s behaviour are among welcome steps - but there are some lost opportunities, and more work remains to ensure that the needs of those on the margins are at the heart of Government priorities. 

As part of this, we urge Departments to ensure that ‘whole-of-government efficiencies’ do not include unexpected cuts in demand-driven funding that social service agencies can ill-afford.