Frankston Hospital construction builds up young people for success

A new traineeship program at the Frankston Hospital redevelopment is supporting young Aboriginal Australians to build careers in the construction industry.

Eight trainees are taking part in the recently launched Be Onsite program. It will provide participants with practical skills, mentorship and peer support.

Trainees will complete 10 weeks of accredited training. They will then work onsite at the Frankston Hospital redevelopment with guidance from subcontractors. The program provides a mix of practical and theoretical skills.

First Nations businesses support trainees and subcontractors while they are completing the program. This includes cultural support, leadership and mentoring activities.

When they finish the program, participants can access pathways that help them move into traditional apprenticeships or other construction employment opportunities.

Be Onsite is the first of several development programs provided by The Exchange. The Exchange is a social impact initiative run by the Exemplar Health consortium and Lendlease.

Through The Exchange, Lendlease and subcontractors will partner with local community-based organisations and training providers. They will deliver employment, skills and training opportunities for people disadvantaged in the employment market.

The Frankston Hospital redevelopment

The Frankston Hospital redevelopment will deliver:

• a new 12-storey clinical services tower and main entrance
• 130 more beds
• new spaces for mental health and oncology services
• 15 new operating theatres.

As more families move to Frankston, the redevelopment will also provide more women’s and children’s services, including:

• new maternity, obstetrics and paediatric wards
• a women’s clinic
• a special care nursery.

We’re delivering the redevelopment in partnership with Peninsula Health and the Exemplar Health consortium. Construction is progressing well, with main works on track for completion in 2025.

Learn more about the Frankston Hospital redevelopment.