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March 26 2026 By Adam Carswell Link to original article here: https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/bendigotimes/news/premiers-office-inundated-as-union-urges-change/ Call to arms: As many as 100 local disability workers walked off the job last Tuesday. Photos: Adam Carswell Up to 100 local disability workers walked off the job last Tuesday to march from the Bendigo Trades Hall to rally outside Premier Jacinta Allan’s office in Mollison Street. The protest was part of the Health and

Disability support workers protest outside Premier Jacinta Allan’s Bendigo office over funding cuts Disability support workers and NDIS recipients have protested outside Jacinta Allan’s Bendigo office — while she battles striking teachers in Melbourne — who say looming closures threaten to impact hundreds of locals. By Eddie Russell Link to article here. Protesters swarm Premier Jacinta Allan's Bendigo office to voice their outrage at cuts to disability services. Picture: Ed

By Ben Loughran March 26 2026 - 6:00am Link to original story here . Disability support workers are concerned some of the community's most vulnerable may end up filling hospital beds or on the street if a state government funding subsidy was not renewed. In December 2025, a funding subsidy which had been in place for nearly a decade and helped five disability providers run former state-operated group homes lapsed. Peter Romer has been a disability support worker for two

A powerful show of community and solidarity unfolded outside the office of Jacinta Allan this week, as disability advocates, carers, and allies gathered to demand meaningful change. The rally brought attention to ongoing concerns about accessibility, funding, and the lived realities of people with disabilities across Victoria. More than just a protest, the event was a reminder that behind every statistic is a person whose voice deserves to be heard and acted on. 8 years ago,

Striking workers from Possability were joined by disability support workers at across the State to discuss the next steps to escalate the campaign to save the Victorian disability sector.

As part of ongoing industrial actions, members from Aruma stopped work to demand better for themselves and the people they support.

Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:05): (1919) My constituency question is for the Minister for Disability. My constituent is a resident of Noble Park. He works in disability support at the local supported independent living facility, or SIL. With the state subsidy for the SIL set to expire at the end of this year, my constituent holds grave concerns for the future of vulnerable residents in Noble Park. Fifty-nine group homes across Victoria have already closed,

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:56): (1946) My question today is to the Minister for Disability, and I ask it on behalf of the thousands of residents of group homes in my electorate and thousands of disability workers who support these residents in places like the Scope homes in Gisborne Street and Yarraleen Place in Bulleen, Life Without Barriers homes in May Street and Polaris Drive in Doncaster, the Melba home in Reilly Court, Croydon, and many, many more

Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:45): (1164) My question is for the Minister for Disability. Minister, you have previously spoken in this place about an MOU between the state government and HACSU, the Health and Community Services Union, which comes to an end on 31 December this month. This MOU has allowed for the continuation of providing supported independent living services to people with complex and multiple disabilities. Sadly, as this MOU comes to an e

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:47): (2108) My question is to the Minister for Disability . The state disability subsidy for supported independent living group homes ended last year, and it disrupted care, reducing staffing and putting participants and their families at risk and in a state of high concern. Homes are at risk and participants are concerned that they ...and I ask the minister: have you now engaged with your Commonwealth counterpart and what will you do to s

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (19:10): (2294) My adjournment is for the Minister for Disability , and the action I seek concerns what can only be described as the complete collapse of Victoria’s disability group home system, and I ask for the government to take immediate steps to stop further group home closures, prevent the termination of the Disability Services Enterprise Agreement Victoria, protect the wages and safety conditions of more than 7500 disa