Bendigo City Council Approves 2026-27 Community Services Allocation for Local Welfare Programs

Bendigo City Council passed a motion on 10 July 2026 to increase its community services budget line by $3.2 million for the 2026-27 financial year. The funds target three existing programs operated through the council's community wellbeing division, covering emergency relief payments, school holiday activity grants and outreach counselling at the Bendigo Community Health Centre.

The increase follows the release of the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing quarterly report in June 2026, which recorded a 12 per cent rise in requests for financial counselling across the Loddon Mallee region. Council documents tabled at the meeting state that the additional allocation responds to that demand and aligns with the state government's regional social services framework published in March 2026.

Direct effects on daily services used by residents

Households in Bendigo East and Kangaroo Flat that currently access the council's emergency relief fund will see the per-household cap lifted from $450 to $600 from 1 August 2026. The youth holiday program will add two extra weeks of activities at the Bendigo Stadium and the La Trobe University campus, extending places from 320 to 480 children. Family counselling sessions at the Community Health Centre will increase from 45 to 65 appointments per week, with priority given to referrals from Bendigo Health social workers.

Bendigo City Council budget papers for 2025-26 show that 2,840 residents used at least one of these three programs in the previous financial year. The new allocation represents an 18 per cent rise on the $17.8 million total community services expenditure recorded in those papers.

Implementation timeline and next reporting steps

Council officers will advertise the expanded program guidelines on the city website by 22 July 2026. Quarterly performance reports will be presented to the community services committee starting in October 2026, with the first set of figures covering uptake numbers and wait times. Residents seeking access can contact the council's community wellbeing team through the existing 5434 6000 number or in person at the Hargreaves Street customer service centre.