Premier Daniel Andrews has created three new portfolios to come under the wing of Greek Australian ministers Philip Dalidakis and Jenny Mikakos.
Mr Dalidakis adds Minister for Trade and Investment to his duties, (he was previously Innovation and Trade minister). Dalidakis also takes on the new portfolio of Innovation and the Digital Economy, in addition to continuing as Minister for Small Business.
Families and Children, and Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos adds the new portfolio of Early Childhood Education to her responsibilities.
Under this ministry, Ms Mikakos will oversee a $202.1 million budget as part of the Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan aimed at creating a “higher quality, more equitable and inclusive early childhood system”, further reinforcing Labor’s claims of being the architect of Victoria as ‘the education state’.
The Plan includes over $80 million for families to address parenting challenges and to enhance access to skilled professionals like Maternal and Child Health nurses. More than $108 million has been allocated to help kindergartens improve their resources to deliver inclusive high quality early education experiences, and $7.2 million has been promised to support children with a disability and their families during the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.