One in three children in Victoria are waiting too long for surgery, as surging demand puts pressure on the state’s health system and delays critical care for young patients.

The Victorian Government says the delays are affecting children’s ability to attend school, spend time with friends and progress through key stages of development, prompting a major funding response in the 2026/27 Budget.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced a multi-million-dollar package aimed at cutting wait times and expanding access to care, including $50.1 million to deliver 4,000 additional planned surgeries for children and young people across the state.

“This is personal for me,” Allan said.

“I know how scary it can be to have a sick child in hospital… the endless wait until they are home safe.”

She said the investment would help children return to normal life sooner.

“More surgery for children and young people will help kids get back to school – and get back to being kids.”

The additional surgeries will cover a range of procedures, including general and specialist operations such as orthopaedics, with major health services including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, Western Health, Barwon Health and Bendigo Health set to benefit.

The government also plans to increase capacity during school holidays to minimise disruption to learning.

Alongside this, nearly $16 million will fund an additional 45,000 specialist clinic appointments for children, aimed at reducing long waits for initial consultations, including those for serious conditions such as neurological disorders.

Health Minister Harriet Shing said the expansion would ensure families receive timely care.

“We’re making sure children and families right across Victoria can access the surgical and specialist care and treatment they need.”

The Budget also includes $8 million for a new pilot program, Specialist Advice Now, designed to give general practitioners faster access to specialist input without requiring formal referrals.

The initiative builds on evidence from Queensland suggesting many cases can be resolved without hospital appointments.

A further $33.3 million will be invested to expand VicKey, a digital platform that helps hospitals manage patient information and waitlists more efficiently.

The government says the system has already reduced waiting times for some specialist appointments by up to 38 per cent.

In response to rising rates of bowel cancer among younger Australians, the Budget also allocates $27 million to improve access to endoscopy services, including new equipment and dedicated teams across 26 health services.

Allan said the measures were designed to address immediate pressures while strengthening the broader system.

“Above all, we are a government that believes in improving our public health system, so families have somewhere to turn when they need it.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over health system performance, with the government highlighting its record on hospital investment while criticising the opposition’s past policies.

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