Melbourne CBD support package
Life is returning to the CBD and were making sure the recovery continues with support for all of the things that Victorians and visitors love about Melbourne.
The 20 May Budget will contain an investment of $107.4 million to rejuvenate Melbournes much-loved CBD. The Budget will allocate $7.4 million to provide for a new voucher scheme to entice Melburnians and visitors to support city cafes and restaurants. The City of Melbourne will provide a further $1 million for the scheme.
Rebates of 20 per cent from a minimum of $10 returned to a maximum rebate of $100 will be available for spending on dining with the CBD Dining Experiences Scheme.
More information on how to access the rebate will be released soon.
Creative State Future To Be Brighter and Bolder
Victorias multi-billion-dollar creative economy will be reinvigorated thanks to an unprecedented $288 million investment by our Government in the Victorian Budget 2021/22.
Designed to secure jobs and reassert Victorias position as the creative state, a $167.3 million Creative State funding package will support the sector as it bounces back after a challenging year putting creativity at the heart of Victorias recovery and supercharging the sector.
As well as cementing our reputation as the nations creative capital, this investment is expected to underpin the creation of more than 20,000 new jobs with the commissioning of new works and collaborations across the state. Victoria is proudly the live music capital of Australia. Victorias landmark Music Works industry development initiative will be extended with $10.8 million to help our hard-hit music industry reactivate, with specific support to nurture young emerging talent and help tours get back on the road.
The Creative State funding package is in addition to the $191.5 million screen industry package and the 40,000 jobs set to be created through VICSCREEN, announced yesterday, and builds on the record $220 million delivered in last years Budget.
Todays announcement takes our total investment in Victorias creative life and recovery to a record $508 million since the start of the pandemic.
New Online Learners Test Rolling Out Statewide
Thousands more young Victorians can now take their learner permit tests without waiting for an appointment date or travelling to a VicRoads Service Centre, as the roll-out of our Governments new online test scales up.

As the online test rolls out across the state, 1,000 extra prospective learners each week with existing test appointments will be invited to sign up and complete the test with people booked at Mooroolbark, Sunbury and Colac invited last week, and Kyneton, Dromana and Sunshine coming online this week after the program started in Gippsland last month.
Next week will see the test roll out to people who have booked testing appointments at the VicRoads hub@exhibition in Melbournes CBD, Ballarat, and Hoppers Crossing before all prospective learners across Victoria are able to sign up online by the end of June.

The new test takes learners through a course that includes a mix of theory, interactive videos and visual graphics before the final assessment, reinforcing key road safety messages with mini-quizzes to progressively test learners knowledge in modules like speed, drink and drug driving, seatbelts, fatigue, distractions and road rules.

To access the test, customers will need to create a myVicRoads personal account on a compatible device. The entire course and test will take between four and six hours to complete, with prospective learners having 12 months to sit and pass the online test once theyve registered.

For more information on how to access the Learner Permit Test Online, visit vicroads.vic.gov.au.
Giving more students a Head Start
This week the Minister for Education announced the expansion of the initiative to have 10 additional school-based Head Start staff to support the program, which will benefit 400 students across the state.
There are 10 Head Start clusters established across 130 Victorian schools, with 54 staff employed by schools across the clusters. The new staff will be located at one of the cluster schools and service multiple schools.
Head Start teams work closely with students to determine their readiness for a vocational pathway, including matching with a suitable employer, signing up with a registered training provider and supporting them throughout the apprenticeship and traineeship.
Students are also supported to meet the learning outcomes of the Head Start initiative including the achievement of vocational and school-based education.
The Head Start initiative plans to deliver up to 1,700 apprenticeships and traineeships by 30 June 2022.
We are transforming vocational and applied learning in senior secondary schooling with a $38 million investment. This includes the development of a new single integrated senior secondary certificate, following the Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Secondary Schooling, led by John Firth.
Applications Now Open For Business Events Funding
The National Business Events Program is now open to applications for grants of up to $25,000 to support the business events sector and boost the number of interstate visitors to Melbourne.
The program is being administered by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) with eligible events including conferences, exhibitions, tradeshows, workshops and seminars.
Applications will be open until 30 June 2021 or until funding is exhausted. Up to 50 per cent of funding will be payable before the event commences to minimise upfront expenses for organisers.
To be eligible for funding, events must have a minimum two-day program and attract at least 150 in-person delegates, with 30 per cent or more of patrons coming from interstate.
The grants may be used on costs associated with venue hire, accommodation, transport and other event expenses.
Our Government acknowledges the role business events can play in the states economic recovery by boosting hotel occupancy and hospitality spending, while regional areas can also benefit from delegates travelling before and after events.
Application and full eligibility details are available at melbournecb.com.au/plan-event/national-business-events-program
Event organisers seeking advice should be encouraged to contact the Melbourne Convention Bureau on 9002 2222 or [email protected]