Josh Geard is One Nation's candidate for South Barwon.

Josh says the pressure on families across South Barwon is unlike anything he's seen.

"People are working harder than ever and going backwards. Mortgage, rates, insurance, power, childcare,  two incomes and still nothing left at the end of the week. That's not a personal failure, it's a policy failure, and we've had twelve years of it."

He's spent more than two decades in healthcare in a corporate capacity, dealing directly with clinics, practitioners and health services across Victoria. It's given him a front-row view of a system that's crumbling,  patients waiting longer, staff stretched past breaking point, and good people walking away from a profession they love.

"I've seen it firsthand, from the inside. Not from a briefing note."

The same story plays out across our suburbs. Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Mount Duneed have grown faster than almost anywhere in regional Australia, and the infrastructure never followed. Families were sold a home and a future. What they got was traffic, waiting lists and services that turn up years late.

"Governments are happy to take the stamp duty. They're just not there when the school, the road and the bus service are needed. South Barwon has been taken for granted for too long."

Josh says he'll fight for the nurses, paramedics, police and volunteer firies who've carried this state through everything and been repaid with understaffing, burnout and empty announcements.

His priorities are cost of living relief, infrastructure that keeps pace with our growing suburbs, safer streets and proper backing for police, a health system that works, and cutting the red tape strangling local small business.

"I don't do spin and I don't do focus-group lines. I'm not here to become a career politician. I'm here because this community deserves someone who'll tell them the truth and actually fight for them."