Victorian State Budget 2026–27: Older Victorians’ priorities

Summary

Over a three-week consultation, 151 Victorians shared their views on investment gaps and opportunities to improve infrastructure and services that support positive ageing. 80% of responders were aged 65+.

Housing emerged as the most pressing concern. 54.3% (82 of 151 respondents) rated current commitment to public and community housing as “Poor”, and over half (52.3%, 79 respondents) identified housing as their top funding priority.

Health services, particularly public hospitals and mental health were also highlighted as funding priorities, with 47.7% nominating health as an area for additional investment.

There was strong endorsement of the eight proposed initiatives, each receiving “Support strongly” from 58.9% to 82.1% of respondents. These initiatives included:

Regular opportunities for older Victorians to share their views and help shape government decisions on ageing well.
Statewide campaign to shift attitudes and behaviours that drive elder abuse within families.
Financial literacy education, including specific support in relation to housing security.
Personalised advice, counselling, and support for isolated older people to access and utilise local opportunities for social connection.
Enhanced capacity of community mental health services to support older people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Local support to help older people with complex needs navigate and access different types of care and services.
Increased legal and advocacy support for older Victorians experiencing financial abuse.
Expanded respite options and well-being support for older carers particularly women.
Targeted support for older people at health risk due to extreme heat to be resilient and reduce exposure to harm.

What we heard

Ratings of current services

Respondents rated current investment in a set of public services on a four-point scale (“Good”, “Fair”, “Poor”, or “No opinion”). Notable items include:

Public and community housing: 6 “Good” (4.0%), 51 “Fair” (33.8%), 82 “Poor” (54.3%). This is the single weakest area in the survey.
Arts and adult education (including libraries): 90 “Good” (59.6%), the most positively rated area.
Public hospitals and health services: 47 “Good” (31.1%), 59 “Fair” (39.1%), 41 “Poor” (27.2%).
Transport: 50 “Good” (33.1%), 73 “Fair” (48.3%), 25 “Poor” (16.6%).

Support for proposed budget initiatives

All eight initiatives in the consultation received strong endorsement. Top priorities include:

Regular opportunities for older Victorians to share their views: 124 “Support strongly” (82.1%).
Financial literacy education including housing security: 119 “Support strongly” (78.8%).
Expanded respite for older carers (particularly women): 119 “Support strongly” (78.8%).
Campaign to shift attitudes driving elder abuse: 116 “Support strongly” (76.8%).

Even the lowest strong-support rate, targeted support for heat-related health risks, had 58.9% (89/151) supporting strongly, with another 35.8% supporting to some extent.

What should receive more funding?

Respondents were asked to list three areas that should be prioritised for additional government funding. Top themes include:

Public and community housing: 79 respondents (52.3%).
Public hospitals and health: 72 respondents (47.7%).
Transport (public and community): 40 respondents (26.5%).
Family violence prevention and elder abuse: 38 respondents (25.2%).
Policing and community safety: 45 respondents (29.8%).

Other repeated asks included climate/disaster management, financial support (energy concessions), and disability inclusion.

Priority groups for funding

Respondents were invited to nominate up to three groups of older people which should receive extra funding (n = 135 who answered). Top mentions were:

Renters/people experiencing housing insecurity with 43 mentions (31.9%).
Older women with 26 mentions (19.3%).
People with disability with 26 mentions (19.3%).
Low-income earners/pensioners with 26 mentions (19.3%).
LGBTQIA+ older people with 14 mentions (10.4%).

Commonly suggested new/expanded services or infrastructure

When asked for specific projects or services, frequent mentions included: more public housing, improved bus and train services (especially local/regional), hospital services and home care support, increased protections and services around elder abuse, and energy bill relief.

Interpretation and implications for members

Housing is the frontline issue. The combination of overwhelmingly poor ratings for investment in public/community housing and frequent calls to prioritise housing suggests this is where older Victorians most urgently want budget action. Policymakers should consider measures that specifically benefit older renters and those at risk of housing insecurity, such as targeted tenancy supports, social housing supply, and allocation prioritisation for older applicants.
Current strains on the health system demonstrate the need for practical intervention. While hospital/health ratings are mixed rather than uniformly poor, the high priority placed on health indicates that incremental investments in public hospitals, community health, aged care allied services (dental, home care, mental health) will resonate.
Strong mandate for elder-abuse initiatives and carer support. High levels of strong support for the elder-abuse prevention campaign, legal/advocacy supports, and carer respite suggest wide support for these targeted interventions.
Transport and community connection matter. Recurrent mentions of buses and trains, plus high ratings for community sport and libraries, point to a desire for accessible local services that reduce isolation, particularly for non-car-owning older people.
An equity lens is required. Respondents explicitly called for prioritising renters, older women, people with disability and low-income pensioners. Budget measures without an equity lens may not meet the needs identified.

Recommendations

Short-term (within 12 months, the 2026-27 budget year)

Based on the survey findings, we recommend the Victorian Government:

Establish a publicly funded advisory and legal service to support older Victorians living in, or considering moving to, retirement villages, residential parks and similar forms of communal retirement housing with contracts, complaints, rights, and conflict resolution.
Fund an elder-abuse prevention campaign and expand specialist legal/advocacy services for older people experiencing financial abuse.
Equip selected existing and new Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals with enhanced geriatric, dementia and carer expertise, and older persons outreach capacity, prioritising regional and outer suburban areas based on local need.
Expand respite and wellbeing supports for older carers.

Medium-term (2–4 years)

Establish a targeted older-persons housing package: fast-track repairs and allocation policy changes to prioritise older renters in social housing waitlists; increase funding for tenancy support services.
Commit to a social housing supply target focused on dwellings suitable for older people (single-level, accessible, located near services).
Invest in local transport improvements (bus route frequency, low-floor buses, community shuttle services) to reduce isolation.
Improve home care access and capacity to reduce pressure on hospitals and residential aged care.