Hospital based care 09 September 2022

Construction complete on new mental health facility at the McKellar Centre in Geelong

Geelong and Barwon region residents now have better access to mental health support with the completion of Barwon Health’s McKellar Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre.

The new 16-bed acute facility has been delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s $801 million Mental Health Beds Expansion Program. The program is a response to key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Accessible video transcript

TEXT: Construction is complete on a new state-of-the-art, 16-bed acute mental health facility at the McKellar Centre in Geelong.

IMAGES: Aerial footage of the McKellar Centre in Geelong and its surrounds.

TEXT: Take a look inside.

IMAGES: Details of a small water feature at the facility before footage moves to a slow reveal of the inside of a patient bedroom, which has large windows letting in natural light and outside views, and a quick glimpse of the reception and foyer area.

TEXT: The new facility is part of the Victorian Government’s $801 million Mental Health Beds Expansion Program.

IMAGES: Another aerial view of the facility, looking directly down onto the roof of the facility, which is dotted solar panels and views down into the internal courtyards.

TEXT: And responds to a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

IMAGES: Footage of a landscaped internal courtyard, with seating and weather-proof exercise bikes.

TEXT: Designed in consultation with people with lived experience of the mental health system.

IMAGES: Another view of a patient window and large windows, followed by a close up the landscaped stream and flowing water.

TEXT: The facility will provide more than 5,800 days of care – which equates to approximately 355 people each year.

IMAGES: A final aerial of the completed facility and surrounding buildings and houses.

IMAGES: The closing slide is the Victorian Health Building Authority logo, the web address vhba.vic.gov.au and the Victorian Government logo.

End of transcript.

About the facility

The new state-of-the-art facility was built using modular construction. It will allow an extra 355 Victorians to get the acute care they need each year.

The facility was designed in consultation with people who have lived experience of the mental health system. This included consumers, carers and staff. The result is a facility that will provide a safe and welcoming environment for people experiencing acute mental health concerns.