The Allan Labor Government is giving the housing supply in Bairnsdale a boost, supporting higher staff levels at East Gippsland's biggest employer.
Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh, represented Minister for Regional Development, Jaclyn Symes, to officially mark the start of construction of new accommodation at the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service.
Located across the road from the Day Street Hospital Campus, works are underway to build 26 new units for more than 30 people.
Supported by the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, the new accommodation will provide modern, convenient housing to attract and retain skilled healthcare workers who provide critical care across the region from the far east to the northern high country.
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service provides a range of services to East Gippsland communities across three campuses in Bairnsdale - The Day Street Campus is home to the Bairnsdale Hospital and Emergency Department along with other services including women's, children and birthing services, elective surgery and palliative care.
The units are situated close to hospital grounds, providing safe, direct access to the workplace.
The support provided through the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is part of the Labor Government's record investment of more than $47 billion in just over a decade to help make rural and regional Victorian towns even better places to live, work and invest.
For more information, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/rwaf
As stated by Minister Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
"These new homes will attract vital, skilled workers to the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, benefiting local patients, communities and small businesses all over East Gippsland."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
"We are proud to be investing in more housing for essential healthcare workers and their families in Bairnsdale to benefit communities right across the region."
As stated by Bairnsdale Regional Health Service CEO Peter Abraham
"We are so excited to finally have local access to new purpose build, contemporary and secure accommodation, which will provide us with a competitive advantage in our endeavours to attract the highest calibre care focused workforce now and into the future. Build it and they will come!"
