This objective aims to ensure Victorians are socially connected to their community in a way that enhances their safety and wellbeing. Strong communities are critical in fostering social inclusion and participation and ensuring that Victorians from intersectional communities can safely identify with their culture, express their identity and build support networks with people they trust.
Objective 3 objective indicators
To succeed, we will:
- increase economic inclusion and participation
- increase community participation, inclusion and connectedness
- decrease experiences of discrimination
- increase safety where people live, work, learn and play
- increase wellbeing for Aboriginal Victorians, including safety to connect with and express culture
- increase capacity for senior Victorians to age well
- improve supports for people with complex needs
- increase community resilience
- improve social recovery following emergencies
- reduce sexual violence.
Objective 3 initiatives
To meet this objective, we will:
- strengthen intergovernmental advocacy to influence the national policy agenda on disability inclusion, gender equality, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, veterans affairs, aged care, family violence and equitable access to social services and programs
- coordinate and deliver actions under key strategies and plans including:
- Our promise, your future: youth strategy 2022–27
- Pride in our future: LGBTIQA+ strategy 2022–32
- Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–26
- Ageing well action plan 2022–26
- Our equal state: Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023–27
- refreshed Victorian carer strategy (due for release in 2025)
- lead and support legislative reforms to protect the rights of people with disability, LGBTIQA+ people, older adults and other people with complex needs
- deliver programs to boost youth participation and equip government stakeholders to engage more effectively with young people and the youth sector
- deliver supports for Victorian LGBTIQA+ groups and organisations to empower their communities through all life stages, including events celebrating LGBTIQA+ identities, culture and history, and funding critical services delivered by and for LGBTIQA+ communities
- deliver upgrades to scout halls, facilities for ex-service organisations and other community infrastructure
- deliver cost-of-living relief through:
- expanding partnerships with the food security sector and boosting food relief services
- expanding the Good Money Program to increase access to no-interest loans
- improving access to the Victorian Carer Card
- reducing the eligibility age for the Seniors Card for First Nations people
- the nation-first Veterans Card
- free pads and tampons in vending machines in public sites
- the Energy Bill Relief Fund
- deliver mentoring, employment and education, alcohol and other drugs outreach, housing support, diversion and family therapy programs for young Victorians at risk of disengagement, homelessness or contact with the justice system
- implement a Pride in Ageing program to address the needs of ageing LGBTIQA+ Victorians and better support their connections to communities
- implement programs that support and connect LGBTIQA+ communities through delivery of the annual Pride Event and Festival Fund (PEFF) and the Victoria’s Pride annual celebrations and regional activation program.
- implement the Rainbow Tick Accreditation program to improve inclusive community and mental health services for LGBTIQA+ Victorians including a dedicated self determination stream for Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations and services.
- improve and expand supports for service users by:
- delivering specialist forensic disability support and treatment, including safe, community-based housing for people with cognitive disability who are leaving the justice system or at risk of reoffending
- supporting coordination and assertive outreach for people with complex needs experiencing significant service gaps who are at risk of harm to themselves or others
- considering responses to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.