By Tyler Wright
Upper Yarra residents are encouraged to go out and enjoy their favourite restaurants, cafes, bars and live entertainment venues with the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program returning after its success earlier this year.
The program was first launched in March, with more than $32 million claimed by Victorians across food and entertainment venues within three months.
More than 40,000 claims were made in the Yarra Ranges Shire and Greater Dandenong City municipalities, and more than $6 million was spent on dining and entertainment in the region.
The latest round of the program, which opened on Monday 19 September, has already had strong uptake with customers able to secure 25 per cent cash back on purchases over $40.
While cost of living pressures put extra pressure on punters’ hip pockets Belgrave’s Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen co-owner Billy Crombie hopes the return of the dining and entertainment program will boost customers’ spend once again.
“[People are] still eating out, but their spend per head is less, so this is going to help that increased spend per head… and it will help our events business up here,” Ms Crombie said.
She has been using social media to alert customers to the scheme, and said the initial period of the program encouraged customers to add more items onto their bill.
“When you said to them ‘did you know you can claim back 25 per cent?’ they were spending more; they were buying that glass of wine or they were they were having dessert,” Ms Crombie said.
$125 cash back is the maximum rebate available to claimers, and the $25 million program will run until Friday 16 December or until funds are exhausted.
To claim cash back on your dining or entertainment expense, visit https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-dining-and-entertainment-program
