Victoria has increased financial support for eligible children affected by the death of a parent in a transport accident, with the amendment commencing on November 1.
The change was added during Parliament’s consideration of the Workplace Legislation Amendment (And Other Matters) Act 2026. It amends the Transport Accident Act 1986 and sits alongside Victoria’s existing system of dependency benefits administered by the Transport Accident Commission.
The reform is directed at the financial disruption that follows the loss of a parent, not at liability for the crash itself. Eligibility and the benefits available will continue to depend on the statutory scheme and the child’s circumstances. Families may be entitled to different forms of assistance, and the commission remains responsible for assessing claims.
Other parts of the same amending Act have separate commencement dates. The November 1 change is the provision increasing support for children; the Act’s wider occupational health and safety, workplace-injury and dust-disease reforms should not be treated as having all begun on the same day.
WorkSafe Victoria’s official commencement guide identifies the transport-accident measure and the dates for the remaining provisions.
