While Australia’s gender pay gap is narrowing – having reduced by 7.5% over the last decade – women still earn less on average than men, and they are much more likely to head up single parent households. This means they are disproportionately affected by cost of living pressures.
This Budget delivers important cost of living relief, with free travel in April and May and half-price fares for the rest of the year. This $433 million investment makes public transport more affordable. This is on top of free public transport for people aged under 18 on all Victorian public transport services, which kicked in on 1 January 2026.
This Budget also invests $11 million to strengthen food security across Victoria, with grants for community organisations to provide food relief and make sure they can get it to those who need it most.
We are also delivering $150,000 to strengthen the Country Women’s Association of Victoria’s capacity to deliver aid and financial relief for women, children and families in need, and $2.7 million towards continuing financial counselling services.
We recognise that due to historical gender norms, mothers are more likely to be in charge of domestic costs such as childcare, education and extracurricular activities. This pressure is compounded by entrenched gender pay gaps and the over-representation of women in precarious employment.
One way the Victorian Government is working to improve career pathways and break down gender norms is by enshrining the right to work from home in law. Legislation to be introduced to the Parliament would protect the right to work from home at least 2 days a week, when reasonable, from 1 September 2026.
To further assist with the immediate cost of living burdens traditionally borne by mothers, this Budget will continue supporting families with the cost of raising kids, by providing:
- $28 million for the Affordable School Uniforms program to reduce the financial burden on parents.
- $16 million to continue and expand the Glasses for Kids program to more classrooms, delivering free vision screening and glasses for kids who need them. Since it was introduced, Glasses for Kids has delivered more than 68,000 vision screenings and 13,700 pairs of glasses – saving families money and time on appointments.
- $15 million to continue to give children under 16 free admission to Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park and Werribee Open Range Zoo on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays.
- $14 million for School Breakfast Clubs so kids can start every day with a free, healthy breakfast.
- $11 million for approximately 55,000 more Get Active Kids Vouchers to help eligible families cover the cost of sports enrolment and any included equipment, enabling more kids to play the sport they love. This program also encourages women and girls to participate in sport.
- $7.4 million for Kinder Kits to help every 3-year-old starting kindergarten to learn through play.
- $3.6 million so kids can learn a second language through the Early Childhood Language Program.
- $1.1 million to continue the Energy Assistance Program where over half the participants are women and which has already helped more than 15,000 households save almost $3 million on their energy bills through access to bill relief.
- $964,000 to provide free books in Prep Bags to help instil a love of reading at home as kids start school.
Updated