Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) welcome the Victorian Budget 2024-25, which focuses on relief for families and enhanced support for victim survivors of family violence. However, as the Victorian population continues to age, more needs to be done to support this vital cohort.
Relevant new announcements for older Victorians as part of today’s budget include:
- $211m for supporting survivors of family and sexual violence including funding for secure accommodation options, perpetrator case management and financial counselling,
- $197m accommodation and support services for Victorians experiencing homelessness, and
- $31.2m extra in 2024-25 to continue to provide high quality care in the public sector residential aged care system.
“This budget marks a key moment in time, with a focus on our fiscal future,” said Ben Rogers, Acting CEO of COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria. “From here, we need to kickstart our thinking when it comes to outcomes and strategies for older Victorians.
“While it would have been encouraging to see more emphasis on older Victorians, this family-focussed budget makes a number of welcome funding announcements that will help older people,” Mr Rogers continued. “In particular, we’re pleased to see positive outcomes surrounding women’s health, community legal centres, the reduction of power bills, and disability support outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.”
In our submission to the 2024-25 State Budget, COTA Victoria and SRV identified five key areas where targeted investments would deliver benefits for older Victorians. They included an informed plan for older Victorians, an expansion of our integrated response to elder abuse, the improvement of the health and wellbeing of older Victorians, a response to housing and cost of living issues for older Victorians, and increased opportunities for economic participation.
“Overall, this budget leaves many crucial needs of older Victorians largely unaddressed,” Mr Rogers continued. “Though we welcome it has provided maintenance with no major cuts to key areas and services that impact older Victorians in this fiscally constrained environment.
“However, the Victorian Government needs to ensure that the investments it has made deliver for older Victorians, including supporting elder abuse services within its family violence response.
“For instance, grandparents are a vital part of burgeoning families — they too need supports to blossom in that role,” said Mr Rogers. “When it comes to helping families, older Victorians are part of the solution, not the problem.”
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Further information
Steve Wright
Marketing and Communications Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9655 2159
Email: swright@cotavic.org.au
About us
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the interests and rights of people aged over 50 in Victoria. For over 70 years, we have led government, corporate and community thinking about the positive aspects of ageing in the state.
Today, our focus is on promoting opportunities for and protecting the legal rights of people 50+. We value ageing and embrace its opportunities for personal growth, contribution, and self-expression. This belief drives benefits to the nation and its states alongside communities, families, and individuals.
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is the key state-wide service dedicated to advancing the rights of older people and the early intervention into, or prevention of, elder abuse in our community.
SRV has a team of experienced advocates, lawyers, and social workers who provide free information, advice, referral, legal advice, legal casework, and support to older people who are either at risk of or are experiencing elder abuse. SRV supports and empowers older people through the provision of legal advice directly to the older person.