Overview

Austin Health - Short stay observation unit and psychiatric assessment and planning unit

145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia

Construction on the $15.2 million Austin Health short stay observation unit and psychiatric assessment and planning unit project was completed in July 2016. The psychiatric assessment and planning unit opened in February 2017 and the short stay observation unit opened in March 2018.

The new and expanded facilities aim to provide patients admitted through the hospital’s emergency department in need of dedicated mental health care with better access to specialist services.

The new psychiatric assessment and planning unit provides dedicated mental health care to patients needing specialist care upon arrival in the emergency department. The short stay observation unit provides acute care for patients who are expected to stay in the unit for less than 24 hours.

12 ADDITIONAL

SHORT STAY BEDS

4-BED

PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT UNIT

REDUCED

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WAITING TIMES

CONSTRUCTION JOBS CREATED

Scope

The $15.2 million expansion to Heidelberg’s Austin Hospital included:

expanding the current short stay observation unit, increasing the number of beds from eight to 20
construction of a new four-bed psychiatric assessment and planning unit to provide specialist care for patients with mental health needs.

Benefits

The Austin Health - short stay observation unit and psychiatric assessment and planning unit project aimed to provide the following benefits:

Dedicated mental health care

Increased support for patients admitted through the hospital’s emergency department who need dedicated mental health care to receive specialist services.

Improved emergency department capacity

By redirecting patients in need of dedicated mental health care to either the short stay observation unit or the psychiatric assessment and planning unit, more emergency department beds are available for patients requiring urgent emergency care.

Local jobs

Seventeen new local jobs and one new apprenticeship were created during the construction phase of this project. Since completion, Austin Health has seen an increase of 63.3 full-time positions created across both units.

Partners

This project was delivered by the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority in partnership with:

Billard Leece Partnership (architects)
Kane Constructions (builders)

The project was jointly funded by the Victorian Government, Austin Health and the Commonwealth Government.

Please note: As of 1 February 2021, the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority (VHHSBA) became the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA).