Behind the build: Meet the women driving the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment

The Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), in partnership with Grampians Health.

‘It’s really exciting being involved in Ballarat’s biggest and one of the most highly anticipated infrastructure projects which will help futureproof healthcare in the Ballarat region for years to come,’ says Veronica Furnier-Tosco, Chief Redevelopment & Infrastructure Officer for Grampians Health.

‘It’s a privilege to be collaborating and working alongside some incredibly talented women to deliver the much-needed upgrades to our hospital. These new modern facilities will provide our communities with the best possible care, including care closer to home.’

At Grampians Health Ms Furnier-Tosco is working closely with Project Director Nicole Lancer and Communications Lead Renae Nolan. While women at all levels are driving VHBA’s contributions, including Executive Program Delivery Director Anna Marshall, Executive Project Director Danielle Parr, Project Manager Annelyse Carter, Project Manager Naziha Mohammed, Project Officer Sara Stone, and Project Officer Athira Moncy.

Builder John Holland is delivering stage two of the hospital redevelopment, with Site Supervisor Sam Sculley overseeing the construction site.

The commercial construction industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia.

It employs more than 1.3 million people across the country and offers more than 70 employment and career pathways ranging from architects and engineers to tilers and human resources. Despite this, according to the latest data from the Jobs and Skills Australia, women make up only 13% of workers in Australian construction.

The Victorian Government is committed to achieving gender equality in the workplace, including in the construction industry.

In June 2018, the Government announced it was developing Victoria’s Women in Construction Strategy, in partnership with the Building Industry Consultative Council.

While in December 2021, it launched an Australia-first Building Equality Policy to improve the percentage of female representation in construction roles.

The Victorian Government is investing $655 million to redevelop and expand the Ballarat Base Hospital.

The redevelopment will deliver a new emergency department, a women and children’s hub, state-of-the-art theatre suite and an extra 100 inpatient and short stay beds.

Once completed, the upgraded hospital will have the capacity to treat at least 18,000 more emergency patients and an extra 14,500 inpatients per year.

The redevelopment will be completed over multiple stages. Construction of the final stage is expected to be completed in 2027.

Learn more about the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment via our dedicated project page.