New Footscray Hospital Project Newsletter #10 | December 2024

Hospital façade completed

From the outside, the impressive façade makes the hospital appear nearly complete. However, inside, major construction continues, including fit-out work, services installation and landscaping.

More than five million hours of work have been completed by around 1,000 workers, making the site a bustling hub of activity.

In a significant milestone for the project, we’re excited to show you a first look at the hospital’s emergency department. Patient rooms, and corridors are now visible, and the triage and seating areas are taking shape.

Outside, ‘hardscaping’ work, such as installing planter boxes, retaining walls, and preparing the ground for paving, is progressing in the central green space and external areas near the site’s perimeter.

Exterior work continues on the pedestrian footbridge, which connects the hospital to Victoria University and the broader Footscray Park precinct. The scaffolding has been removed, and most of the bridge’s exterior elements are complete.

Soon we will be starting intersection works at the Ballarat Road and Geelong Road (emergency department) entrances of the hospital. We will share more information with the community on these works as they are planned.

We are four years into construction of this major infrastructure project for the west and it’s an exciting time for the community, and Western Health staff and volunteers as they begin preparing to move into the new facility.

Timeline - onsite works

Fit-out focus

Now that the hospital's external façade is finished, we're focusing on the internal services and fit-out on all floors and the emergency department. Let's see what progress we've made in the recent months.

First look at the emergency department

Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas and Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, along with Western Health’s CEO and clinicians, recently visited the new Footscray Hospital site for a first look inside the state-of-the-art emergency department.

When completed, the new Footscray Hospital will transform emergency care for people living in Melbourne’s west, allowing for more than 20,000 additional people to be seen in emergency each year.

Western Health CEO Professor Russell Harrison said: 'this is a great development for our staff, our patients and our community. It’s a great step forward to get best care in a world class facility - this is a modern, 21st century facility that will serve generations to come.'

Patient-centred care was at the forefront of the design, with a focus on reducing anxiety, providing clear wayfinding, and creating a welcoming environment. While visiting the new emergency department, Western Health Director of Footscray ED Dr Ainslie Senz said, 'it’s really taking shape, we’ve tried to balance function, safety and patient experience. It’s a calming environment too and doesn’t seem as clinical as a normal waiting room.'

Tapestry reaches halfway point

The new Footscray Hospital tapestry has reached the halfway point and the Project recently celebrated this milestone with an event at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne.

Artists Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung) and Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji) spoke to their inspiration for ‘Welcome to Country - now you see me: seeing the invisible’. The design incorporates microscopic images of river reeds from the nearby Maribyrnong River and drawings of local native flora and fauna.

In collaboration with the Australian Tapestry Workshop, the artwork will transform into a tapestry spanning two levels of the hospital’s main entrance to welcome all visitors.

A team of 10 weavers have spent more than 4000 hours hand-weaving the 4.2 x 10 metre tapestry using more than 360 coloured yarns.

The tapestry is a collaboration between Plenary Health, the official arts partner for the new hospital, Footscray Community Arts, the Australian Tapestry Workshop, and the Tapestry Foundation of Australia, in collaboration with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health.

The new Footscray Hospital tapestry is generously supported through the Tapestry Foundation of Australia and State Government of Victoria as part of The Premier’s Suite partnership to fund tapestries in new Victorian hospitals.

Generous donations from Melbourne's Vietnamese community top $500,000

Melbourne’s Vietnamese community has generously supported Western Health for many years, and in recent months community fundraising events have raised an incredible total of more than $530,000 for the new Footscray Hospital.

In August, members of the Vietnamese Community in Australia - Victoria Chapter, the Quang Minh Temple, and other community members, held a fundraising dinner which raised $100,000 towards the new Footscray Hospital, and in November, a Vietnamese Community Fundraising Dinner led by Quang Minh Temple raised $430,000, bringing the total raised to over $530,000!

Western Health and the Vietnamese community in Melbourne’s west have deep and longstanding connections, and the continued generosity of this community is helping to build a bright future for healthcare in the west.

Cam o´n su.´ hô tro.´ quý giá này cua quý vi.

Recruitment for Footscray Hospital volunteers ramps up!

Western Health has commenced a Footscray Hospital volunteer recruitment campaign to boost volunteer numbers ahead of the move to the new hospital.

Gain valuable experience, be part of a wonderful team and help to positively impact patients, families, visitors and staff. Plus be part of the historic move from the current Footscray Hospital to the new Footscray Hospital!

Western Health welcomes volunteers from all walks of life, backgrounds, and abilities, including students, retirees, teenagers, undergraduates, individuals with a disability and individuals looking to fulfill Centrelink mutual obligations.

A number of roles are available including Visitor Guiding, Volunteer Meal Assistance Program, Social Support and Volunteers in Emergency. Volunteers are matched to roles based on their passions, interests, location, and availability.

For more information, email volunteer@wh.org.au, call (03) 8395 9092 or visit the Volunteer and Community Engagement Program overview on the Western Health website.

Q&A with Footscray Hospital Volunteer Priscilla Orta Ortiz

How long have you been volunteering at Footscray Hospital?

For the last six months I’ve been helping with the Volunteer Meal Assistance Program on Ward 3B. In this role I help patients access their meal and have a more positive and social mealtime.

What are you most looking forward to with the shift to the new Footscray Hospital?

I am looking forward to volunteering in a modern hospital with amazing new facilities for patients and community members. Personally, I can’t wait to see the incredible views and to use the green space areas.

What do you like most about being a Western Health volunteer?

I enjoy sharing stories with patients and talking about their experiences. I love interacting with my fellow team members, staff, patients and their families. It makes the hospital environment a friendlier place.

From the archives: Did you know?

The first year of the current Footscray Hospital was a time of great optimism among patients, the community, volunteers and staff.

That same optimism was rewarded when the local Footscray Bulldogs won their first ever premiership in 1954.

The ties between the local community and its hospital remain strong to this day.

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners of the lands of the new Footscray Hospital and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Find out more

Learn more about the new Footscray Hospital project on our dedicated project page.