Inclusive, accessible community places

Stonnington is advocating for measures that will support our community to feel safe and able to participate.

Our vision

Stonnington Tomorrow is our Council Plan for 2025 to 2029. It outlines our vision of being a community where you are safe and able to fully participate in community life.

Everyone should be able to access services, feel safe where they live, and stay connected to others. Our safe and accessible spaces and services allow all ages, genders, sexual orientation, abilities, races, cultures and circumstances to participate in arts, sports and recreation.

A library visit or a volunteer group can be a vital touchpoint in someone’s day. Our inclusive spaces, programs and partnerships allow social connection and belonging.

Read our Inclusive, accessible community places fact sheet(PDF, 309KB).

The need for partnership

Council plays a critical role in providing accessible spaces and services. We provide some of these (libraries, immunisation) jointly with State Government, while all levels of government manage others (early years). Partnership is key to providing best-practice assets and services.

We need funding to upgrade and maintain our network of community spaces. We advocate for appropriate investment in accessible, affordable and quality childhood education and care services to meet community needs.

Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy

This advocacy priority aligns with the following recommendations in Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy 2025-2055:

  • Recommendation 2 – Facilitate markets and invest in kindergarten infrastructure 
  • Recommendation 6 – Make government infrastructure more accessible
  • Recommendation 18 – Invest in maintenance, upgrades and expansions of community health facilities

Policy asks

Reverse CIRV charge

The Health Act requires councils to provide immunisation services. However, since 1 July 2025, the State Government has imposed a fee of $2.32 per immunisation encounter on the Central Immunisation Records Victoria (CIRV) system. This risks shrinking the reach and quality of immunisation programs.

Fair immunisation funding

State and federal funding covers just 18 per cent of Council immunisation costs. This forced us to contribute more than $317,000 of our funds in 2024–25 to sustain the program.

We ask that payments to councils increase from:

  • $11.32 to $14 per vaccine for childhood vaccinations
  • $11.32 to $20.05 for adolescent immunisations.

This would bring the state contribution closer to parity with pharmacists.

Index library funding to CPI

Public libraries in Victoria are vital community assets. According to Public Libraries Victoria, State Government funding fell by 4.6% in 2026-27 – the eleventh consecutive year of real decline.

According to the Municipal Association of Victoria, Councils provide around 80% of the funding needed to cover libraries' daily running costs.

Maternal and Child Health investment

Restore funding and strengthen statewide delivery of group-based Sleep and Settling education programs, which were defunded in August 2025.

Ongoing program support and funding for the Hub

Council primarily funds services at the Hub at the Horace Petty Housing Estate, with State and Federal funding stopping or reducing since 2009. Ongoing financial support for the Hub will help ensure we don't withdraw services because of our financial challenges.

Programs include:

  • drop-in sessions
  • homework club
  • sports and recreation
  • school holiday programs
  • theatre
  • community events.

Programs and activities are reviewed each term and adapted to suit changing community needs.

Key projects

Council has a number of projects ready for delivery if we secure funding from external partners.

Project Funding About the project
Chapel Off Chapel $500,000 Replace seating at the Chapel off Chapel theatre, uplifting an important and beloved community asset.
Extended hours at library $200,000 Upgrade Malvern Library to provide a ‘libraries after dark program.’ Invest in capital infrastructure so we can extend library opening hours and provide a safe space.
Princes Close Early Years Hub and family services $16.2 million  Rebuild into a fit-for-purpose family and early years hub. More licensed places support population growth and a projected shortfall in kindergarten places in coming decades.
Winter Street Early Years Hub $14 million Refresh and co-locate Early Years services, Maternal and Child Health, and the Toy Library. The site is adjacent to Activity Centre growth locations in Armadale, Malvern and Caulfield. Redevelopment will create more licensed kindergarten places.

More information

For more information, please visit our Advocacy page.

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