The Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Reform marks a landmark shift in Victoria’s approach to property taxation. Developed by the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Revenue Group, this reform addresses the long-standing economic inefficiency of stamp duty while maintaining revenue stability for essential public services.

Commencing in 2023, the project delivered an innovative, staged transition from stamp duty to a more efficient annual property tax for commercial and industrial properties, effective from 1 July 2024. The reform design was underpinned by rigorous economic modelling from Deloitte Access Economics and shaped through extensive collaboration with over 15 peak industry bodies, legal experts, and government partners including the State Revenue Office and Treasury Corporation Victoria.

To reduce upfront costs for businesses, a government-supported transition loan option was introduced, alongside a robust evaluation framework to track outcomes over time. Already, over 3,700 properties have entered the new system, ensuring no future stamp duty on their transactions.

Achieving bipartisan parliamentary support and industry endorsement, this reform is forecast to add $50 billion to the Victorian economy over 40 years, setting a new national benchmark for complex, evidence-driven tax reform.

The COVID Catch Up Plan and resulting Planned Surgery Reform Blueprint represent a landmark evidence-driven reform of Victoria’s planned surgery system. Developed by the Department of Health’s Planned Care Recovery and Reform Program, the initiative addressed pandemic-driven backlogs and long-standing system challenges.

Using the Deliverology model, the Plan delivered record results in 2023/24, including 209,154 surgeries, an 11% increase in timely treatments, and a 33% reduction in waitlists. Extensive sector engagement underpinned the Blueprint’s development, including consultation with consumers, clinicians, hospital leaders, peak bodies, and unions over a 12-month period.

Collaboration with key partners such as Safer Care Victoria, eHealth, and public health services drove performance monitoring and real-time data visibility through new dashboards and advanced modelling tools like the Digital Twin.

The Blueprint, released in September 2023, now provides a ten-point reform roadmap to embed long-term system improvements. Initiatives such as the VicKey CRM platform and My Surgical Journey consumer portal are transforming patient access and experience.

This project has delivered tangible, measurable improvements to surgical access and equity while laying the foundation for enduring system-wide change that will benefit all Victorians.

The Fair Access Policy Roadmap, developed by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation (OWSR), is a pioneering policy initiative addressing gender inequality in community sport facility access across Victoria. Launched following significant sector and community consultation, the Roadmap sets a national precedent by requiring all Victorian councils and Alpine Resorts Victoria to adopt locally relevant policies that ensure equitable access for women and girls.

Driven by strong evidence from VicHealth and sector research highlighting systemic barriers and discrimination, OWSR partnered with VicHealth, Sport and Recreation Victoria, and local councils to deliver the Roadmap. The project involved a two-phase consultation process, gender impact assessments, council workshops across 3,500km, and eight Communities of Practice to support implementation.

An independent evaluation found the engagement model successfully transformed resistance into action, with 100% council policy adoption now linked to Victorian Government infrastructure funding. Councils are actively embedding gender equity in their decision-making, supported by annual progress surveys and ongoing capacity building.

By embedding gender equity in community sport infrastructure policy and practice, the Fair Access Policy Roadmap is already driving long-term cultural and structural change, serving as a model now influencing policy approaches in other states.

The Victorian Early Leaver Connection Initiative (VELCI) is an innovative, evidence-based policy response to declining school retention rates in Victoria. Led by the Department of Education, VELCI addresses a critical gap for school-aged young people who leave school before completing Year 12, offering them tailored pathways into education and training.

Developed through extensive cross-sector collaboration with TAFEs, community organisations, and government partners, VELCI was co-designed with direct input from early school leavers to ensure services meet their real needs. The initiative combines a nation-first digital exemption management system, targeted career advice, mentoring programs, and a new funding model to enable TAFEs to deliver Year 12 completion pathways.

Grounded in a comprehensive evidence base—including a literature review of 80 studies, data modelling, and focus groups with early leavers—VELCI ensures interventions are targeted to areas with the greatest need, such as Koorie students and students with disabilities.

Underpinned by an Outcomes Measurement Framework and independent evaluation, VELCI is delivering immediate impact. Already described by providers as a “game changer,” the initiative is setting a new standard for early intervention policy—supporting young Victorians to stay engaged, gain qualifications, and build better futures.