2026 to 2027 Victorian State Budget released

Yesterday, the Victorian Government handed down the 2026–27 State Budget.

The budget outcomes for the department include:

• $459.4 million for Skills and TAFE to keep building a world-class training system that delivers essential skills to our most in-demand sectors, while offering cost-of-living relief to Victorians. This investment includes 15,000 Free TAFE places in 2027, 3 new TAFE Centres of Excellence in partnership with the Australian Government, and funding for facility upgrades, TAFE educator training and wrap-around student supports.
• $81.1 million for creative industries with support across music, screen, cultural infrastructure and regional access.
• $28.1 million to attract investment and boost productivity and liveability in Victoria’s regions, including regional community sport upgrades at Rochester and Little River.
• $13.7 million to harness the potential of AI in driving innovation, jobs and economic growth, including $8.2 million for the Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion program and $5.5 million for the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan.
• $12 million to attract the best global talent to Victoria to meet critical skills needs in priority sectors through the State Nomination Visa program.
• $3.3 million to extend Skills Solutions Partnerships for targeted training to rapidly meet the evolving skills needs in Victoria’s priority sectors.
• $3 million to continue advancing our nation-leading mRNA vaccine development and production capability.
• $12.1 million to back local jobs and businesses through the Office of the Local Jobs First Commissioner, Industry Capability Network Victoria and the Fair Jobs Code.
• $1.2 million to boost small businesses by investing in local initiatives and activations delivered by local chambers of commerce, industry associations and local councils.
• $22.8 million to ensure we continue to attract world-standard events and conferences to Melbourne and regional Victoria, including support for the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, due to open this year.
• $92.2 million for the State Sport Centres and Kardinia Park trusts to cement our reputation as Victoria’s sporting capital and continue to offer quality sporting experiences to athletes, fans and the community.
• $35.9 million to improve local sport facilities and boost participation in community sport, including through an $11 million investment in the Get Active Kids vouchers program, providing cost-of-living relief to thousands more Victorian families.
• $5 million for the Go Fishing Victoria program to stock 10 million fish in our waterways.

For more information, visit the State Budget's website.