Memo to State Budget Committee: Time to support young Victorians
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Providing access and opportunity for young Victorians to education, training, transport and support services is at the heart of the VCOSS State Budget Submission for 2010-11 being launched today.
“This budget will be the tenth since Labor was elected and must showcase the Government’s vision for Victoria’s recovery - we need to see that future put the needs and aspirations of Victoria’s young people front and centre,” said Cath Smith, CEO.
“Last year’s budget cut youth funding by an effective 7.9% despite all the evidence that investing in young Victorians makes economic sense. For young people living in outer metropolitan and rural and regional Victoria opportunities are too often compromised by the lack of youth services, non existent public transport and the high cost of housing.
As the State Government’s Budget (Expenditure Review) Committee meets they must direct funding towards:
- Statewide youth services, including a program for rural and regional areas,
- A public transport network that links small towns with regional centres,
- Education, health and family support initiatives to Close the Gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Victorians,
- Supporting families before they reach crisis point,
- Removing the cost barriers to education and better supporting the education young people with disabilities, and
- Youth mental health services
For more information, or to arrange an interview
contact John Kelly – M: 0425 701 080Follow the conversation at www.twitter.com/vcoss
VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au