The Victorian Government’s prioritisation of health care in this week’s Budget has been warmly welcomed by the Australian College of Nursing.
“Around $2.9 billion has been allocated to the health system, which is about 38 per cent of the overall Victorian Budget,” Australian College of Nursing CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward said.
“Early signs are that funds are going where they are needed most – safer care, mental health, preventative health, innovation and hospital services. Funding has been earmarked for the programs and infrastructure to address key challenges in health care delivery.
“However, we would have liked to see more money going towards health care in rural and regional parts of the state.”
The Australian College of Nursing hopes other budgets, including the upcoming Federal Budget, follow Victoria’s lead and invest in closing gaps in the health system.
“We will be watching how funds are rolled out in Victoria. In particular, the Government must focus on building a workforce that can deliver the outcomes it seeks,” Adjunct Professor Ward said.
“Meeting goals like increased admissions and reduced waiting times will require investment in technology, new ways of practice and people.
“We don’t yet have a lot of detail on how the workforce will be supported to achieve these outcomes and will be watching this closely over the coming year.”
