Backing businesses and workers

At a glance

We’re cutting red tape, training workers in the right skills, connecting business owners with global opportunities and showcasing Victoria’s strengths.

We’re also looking to the future, by building on our strengths and looking to emerging opportunities – future proofing Victoria by investing in cutting-edge and world-leading industries.

We’re continuing to invest in mRNA manufacturing facilities, generating innovation and helping keep Australians safe nationwide.

And we’re seizing the new economic opportunity of hosting data centres, as we retrain and upskill workers for the AI jobs of tomorrow.

We are also investing in and developing our critical minerals industry, which is crucial for a more self-reliant Victoria and Australia.

All this is possible thanks to the strong foundations built over the past decade.

And we’re making sure Victorians can get the skills they need for the job they want – and that in-demand industries have job-ready workers for the future. Giving businesses the opportunity to thrive.

That’s why in this Budget we’re continuing to deliver on priority actions as outlined in our Economic Growth Statement, including $19 million in new initiatives aimed at cutting red tape, supporting business capability and transition and levelling the playing field, including for small businesses so they can grow and thrive. Funding includes:

• $12 million to ensure Victorian workers and businesses are given more opportunities to benefit from government procurement.
• $3.3 million for the Skills Solutions Partnerships program to design and pilot new training approaches in priority areas, including AI, leadership and technology adoption.
• $1.6 million to back our local beverage sector and continue the Drink Victorian program.
• $1.2 million for the Small Business Activation Fund to deliver locally led initiatives to create business opportunities. This includes targeted $5,000–$100,000 grants to local business organisations, chambers, industry associations and councils to help small business to grow and thrive.
• $400,000 to make running small businesses easier by improving the availability of dispute resolution services for small businesses.

Driving investment in emerging industries

Victoria is already a world leader in health technology and medical research. Now we’re harnessing artificial intelligence and its potential to drive innovation, jobs and economic growth.

Victoria is the only place in the world where both mRNA global leaders – Moderna and BioNTech – have chosen to establish research and development and manufacturing operations.

We’re continuing to advance Victoria’s mRNA industry by providing $3 million so that mRNA Victoria can continue to deliver critical development initiatives.

Our Critical Minerals Roadmap sets out the path to take advantage of a generational opportunity for Victoria. This Budget invests $2.1 million to continue unlocking Victoria’s critical mineral resources, strengthen domestic manufacturing and support the global energy transition.

This Budget also invests $2.4 million to strengthen Victoria’s international relationships and attract trade and investment opportunities.

AI mission statement

The Government’s AI mission statement positions Victoria as a national leader in seeking safe, trusted AI development and adoption, with the workforce and infrastructure needed to support it.

We’re delivering a $14 million AI Investment Package, including $8.2 million to fund the Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion Support, to protect jobs in industries impacted by AI and help workers transition into AI roles.

Delivering Free TAFE and the training system

Free TAFE changes lives – and the Victorian Government is guaranteeing it.

More than 60,800 people are currently enrolled in a Free TAFE course – a record number.

Since its introduction, Free TAFE has saved more than 245,000 students more than $816 million in tuition fees – saving them more than $3,300 each on average.

The Free TAFE Guarantee is now law, so Victorians know they can get the skills they need for the job they want.

This Budget makes a $459 million investment in skills and training.

It includes:

• $244 million to deliver government-subsidised training, including Free TAFE in up to 80 priority courses, supporting around 59,000 additional places of which around 15,000 are Free TAFE places.
• $87 million for the TAFE Services Fund, improving student completion rates, training access and upgrading TAFE facilities.
• $10 million to make TAFE more accessible to people with disabilities and additional needs and for equipment to deliver hydrogen and battery electric vehicle training at Wodonga TAFE.
• $6.4 million to turbocharge the VET workforce, improving the skills and capacity of the VET workforce in clean energy, manufacturing and the construction sectors, through embedding industry expertise and digitally enabled teaching.
• $5.8 million to improve safety and support for apprentices and trainees.
• $5.4 million to deliver, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, a VET Educator Academy. Supporting Victoria’s TAFE Network to build effective partnerships nationally will deliver a modern, high-quality VET workforce.

The sporting and culture capital

Melbourne is the only city in the world that’s home to a Grand Slam and a Grand Prix. On top of that, Victoria hosts the Boxing Day Test, the AFL Grand Final and our first ever regular‑season NFL game in September.

Our major events and creative industries are a big drawcard for our visitor economy.

This Budget invests $217 million to back in the institutions that make Victoria great, including:

• $29 million to continue the delivery of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project, including Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria.
• $27 million to attract new international productions, digital games and visual effects through the new Victorian Screen Incentive stream of the Victorian Investment Fund.
• $23 million to continue to attract business events to Melbourne and regional Victoria, including attracting events to the new Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.
• $12 million for Hamer Hall upgrades to support our outstanding music events.
• $4.5 million to deliver a contemporary music strategy under Creative State 2028 by funding existing programs to provide research, development, training and resources to businesses, support songwriting in schools and support local music scene enterprises to undertake new projects and develop audiences.
• $4.3 million to maintain state-owned cultural facilities across the state.

Investing in our future sports stars

The world’s greatest athletes all had to start somewhere. We’re helping to make playing sport more affordable for kids, with Get Active Kids vouchers worth up to $200 that can be used on registration and membership fees, and any included uniform and equipment.

And we’re supporting sporting facilities all over our state, including:

• $92 million to the State Sport Centres Trust and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust to continue community access to sporting facilities, including the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
• $25 million to help more Victorians of all interests and abilities to get involved in community sport.