The 2025–26 Budget put the spotlight on two areas that are critical to VERTO and the communities we serve: equality and housing. While there is no easy fix in either of these crucial areas, seeing them featured prominently in the budget was pleasing.
If implemented correctly, some of these measures could have a significant impact. While we don’t know what the future holds, I wanted to share my thoughts on these measures and how we could get them right to better support vulnerable communities.
A step toward more inclusion for people with disability
The commitment of $423.8 million to support people with disability is always welcome – the key, of course, lies in how it is allocated. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is ripe for reform. We need a solid support network for the 21.4% of Australians living with disability, and if done right, the NDIS can be at the forefront. It’s a crucial lifeline for many, particularly those who cannot participate in the workforce.
For those who can participate in the workforce, looking at support that increases inclusion is something VERTO would support. We see the life-changing impacts of employment first-hand through our Disability Employment Services. It builds financial independence, creates new social networks, develops new skills and increases confidence.
In addition, increasing employment among people with disability could provide a significant boost to the economy, with some estimates placing this at $43 billion.
A boost to aged care
VERTO also welcomes the commitment of $1.77 billion to increase aged care award wages alongside an additional $2.6 billion to bolster nursing wages in the sector. This sector desperately needs qualified workers, and wages are an important piece of the puzzle as we look to serve the needs of an ageing population.
A long-term and effective solution must go beyond wages, though. It must look at working conditions, support and other incentives that attract more new workers to this short-staffed industry. A report by VERTO and the Western Research Institute highlighted the looming crisis for regional areas in 2016, so it isn’t a new problem, but it may be an intractable one as successive governments have grappled with it.
Closing the gap for First Nations communities
We were also pleased to see a further commitment to closing the gap for Australia’s First Nations communities. We see the impact that the continuing gap has on many communities first-hand. As an employer with a national footprint, we’re committed to playing our role through Indigenous employment initiatives within VERTO’s workforce and innovative community programs like the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program (AYLP).
If you aren’t aware of this program, I encourage you to take a look. Run by VERTO’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) Coordinator, Aunty Mary Croaker, this program connects Indigenous youth with their culture, actively encourages and supports school participation and builds community connections. It’s seeing some fantastic results in our Central West, with AYLP students like Max inspired to build careers that help the community.
Fostering social enterprise
The introduction of the Social Enterprise Loans Fund is a promising development for nurturing local opportunities, particularly in often overlooked regional areas. While some details remain to be seen, the potential for these funds to facilitate skill development, especially among people with disability, is immense. This initiative has the potential to support social innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering regional economic growth and social cohesion while providing more opportunities for inclusion and equity.
Addressing homelessness and social support
The $9.3 billion investment directed towards states and territories to combat homelessness has the potential to be a critical lifeline for many Australians. The number of people experiencing homelessness is on the rise, driven by higher costs of living and the unaffordability and low availability of rental homes – a vicious cycle.
The first step to combatting the problem is getting people into safe and secure housing. Without a stable place to live, finding employment, building social connections, addressing health issues or seeking support is incredibly hard.
It would also be good to see some funds invested to increase access to public mental health services. Across the country, services are in short supply, and long waitlists are common. In our regions, the situation can be dire without easily accessible local services. We’re seeing the impact here in Bathurst, where a welcome upgrade to the hospital has temporarily relocated the public mental health service to Orange. The reality is that this is a 57km drive. For someone facing dire mental health issues or experiencing homelessness, this may well be an insurmountable barrier to seeking help.
Increases to rental assistance are welcome
VERTO’s Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) team sees the impact of our rental crisis first-hand. If a tenant loses a tenancy in our regions for any reason, it can be very hard to find a new property that is affordable. The perfect storm of low vacancies and skyrocketing rents can have a particularly notable impact on families who need to stay near their children’s school – making the search even more challenging.
If the family can’t find a property, this could mean children moving schools every time a lease is up, maybe even every six months. As a result, there is a risk the next generation could feel the impacts of the rental crisis.
So, we welcome the $4.6 billion investment to increase the caps on Commonwealth Rent Assistance. This assistance is a timely intervention, but it can’t be done without incentives to increase housing supply, of which there were a number.
Nurturing and growing the construction industry
One incentive I particularly applaud is the new Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream, which will incentivise apprentices to consider this critical industry. Construction workers are in short supply, which can have significant ramifications when it comes to building timelines and the availability of new housing.
The shortage really comes to the fore when we have a natural disaster. From the South Coast fires to the Lismore floods, construction is still happening to repair communities. And while, of course, this is vital work, it diverts qualified workers and only increases delays.
Encouraging more people into the industry is a sustainable, long-term solution, although it will take a few years to see the results.
While there is always more to be done, I was heartened to see a focus on fostering equality, supporting disadvantaged cohorts and increasing housing supply. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that these measures, as promising as they are, represent the starting blocks of a marathon. Sustainable change requires continuous commitment, innovation and collaboration across all sectors of society – something we should all get behind.
