The Victorian Government’s 2025-26 State Budget, handed down today, includes some positive investments to support the community to address current cost-of-living challenges. But, with well over half a billion dollars being invested into expanding the state’s prison system, it is ultimately a missed opportunity to invest more into prevention and early intervention to support stronger communities, says Jesuit Social Services.
“The Victorian Government has made significant investments into infrastructure that will benefit the wider community, including in vital areas, such as education and health. However, a $727 million spend on prisons announced last week is money invested at the wrong end of the system,” says Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards.
“This won’t reduce crime or support stronger communities, and it comes at the expense of evidence-based, proven programs that work to prevent crime from occurring in the first place.”
Jesuit Social Services had previously supported more than 100 adults with justice system involvement into employment through the Victorian Government-funded Jobs Victoria Mentors Service. The program, which also supported other marginalised cohorts, was not re-funded.
“Through this work we found that less than 10 per cent of people who had been in prison who maintained employment for at least six months have re-offended. When across the state, nearly 40 per cent of people exiting prison return within two years, this work clearly demonstrates the vital role education, training and employment play in getting someone back on track.
“This Budget includes strong investments in education and employment, but nowhere near enough that targets the people most in need of support such as those our sector works with every day.
Ms Edwards welcomes the funding extension of the after hours component of the Youth Justice Community Support Service program, to deliver services when they are needed and, to work intensively with children aged 10 to 21 and their families to reduce re-offending, as well as funding for regional legal services hubs operated by Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and to continue a number of Community Legal Centre initiatives.
“Funding for vital community services in this Budget will be welcome to all members of the community, particularly families, and the Government’s efforts to tackle cost-of-living pressures will make a difference. However, this Budget is also a missed opportunity to do much more to allow all Victorians, particularly marginalised people and communities most in need of support, to flourish.”
Media enquiries – Kathryn Kernohan, 0409 901 248 or kathryn.kernohan@jss.org.au
