VHBA In Brief: Community news May 2021

Welcome to VHBA In Brief! This is our first edition, so we hope you enjoy it.

On February 2021, we became the Victorian Health Building Authority.

While our name and visual identity has changed, our focus remains the same – to plan and build public health infrastructure that meets the current and future needs of all Victorians.

You can subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date on our announcements, project updates.

Introducing your new Footscray Hospital

The $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital is the biggest ever investment in health infrastructure in Victoria’s history – and construction is now underway! We’ve also released designs for the new hospital – showcasing the exteriors, street entries and expansive green spaces that will create a welcoming atmosphere for patients, families and staff.

Artist impression - The main entrance to the new Footscray Hospital

Designs released for four new mental health facilities

We’ve released the first designs for four new acute mental health facilities at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre, Western Health’s Sunshine Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Northern Health’s Epping campus. Totalling 120 beds, the designs reveal each facility’s exteriors, grounds and internal fit-outs, which have been carefully considered to create a safe, welcoming, and healing atmosphere for consumers on their treatment and recovery journey.

The new facilities are in response to a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Once operational, the beds will deliver an additional 43,000 days of hospital-based care which will equate to an estimated 2,500 people getting the help they need, when they most need it.

International specialist doctor makes tree change to Shepparton

Dr Helen Roberts is the Clinical Director of Anaesthetics and Acute Pain at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton. She moved in 2015 with plans to stay for a year – and has been there ever since.

We spoke to Dr Roberts about her tree-change, and how the $229.3 million redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton is supporting the recruitment and retention of medical professionals in the area.

Creswick Nursing Home dementia friendly unit opens

We recently celebrated the opening of a new $3.2 million dementia friendly unit at Creswick Nursing Home. The new unit includes 12 private rooms with ensuite bathrooms and is based on best-practice design for people living with dementia. Varied common spaces and a light-filled courtyard help simulate a home-like environment, while also providing ample opportunities for residents to socialise and families to visit.

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