Australia stands at a pivotal moment in shaping its economic future. As the Government seeks to drive economic efficiency and sustainable growth, it is essential to realise productivity is not an end in itself, but a means to improving the wellbeing of all Australians, especially those most
vulnerable.

UnitingCare Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this national conversation through the proposals put forward in this Pre-Budget Submission, advocating for a vision of productivity that is inclusive, future-focused and fundamentally about enhancing wellbeing.

Our proposals

The proposals presented in this Pre-Budget Submission have been developed to deliver on the vision of investing in a productive, inclusive and resilient future. They are structured around three pillars:

1. Productivity for inclusion

   Ensuring everyone can participate fully in society and the economy, with a focus on equity of access to care, support, and employment— especially for disadvantaged and remote communities.

2. Productivity for wellbeing

   Embedding prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes, shifting from crisis response to proactive investment in stronger, healthier communities.

3. Productivity for resilience

   Tackling structural reform and future-readiness by modernising our income support infrastructure and preparing the care sector for ethical adoption of new technologies.

Each proposal is evidence-based, costed and designed to deliver measurable social, health and economic benefits for individuals, communities and the nation as a whole.

UnitingCare Australia urges the Government to fund these initiatives as a strategic investment in Australia’s future prosperity and wellbeing.

Download the PDF to read our 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission in full.