The Allan Labor Government's Regional Worker Accommodation Fund hit a major milestone this week, with the Fund's first project now delivered and the Hopetoun community ready to welcome vital healthcare workers.
Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes today announced the completion of four worker houses at Rural Northwest Health's Hopetoun site, which can now host up to 12 medical professionals and their families.
The project is already paying dividends, with all 12 available positions filled during a recent recruitment drive and the health service now able to reopen its urgent care centre in anticipation of the arrival of new staff.
At present, to access urgent care services Hopetoun locals must travel to Warracknabeal or Horsham, where the closest hospitals with urgent care available are located.
The houses were largely constructed off-site in Swan Hill by modular construction business Swanbuild, before being shipped to the site for assembly and connection to essential services. The project is one of several Regional Worker Accommodation Fund projects using modular designs to deliver housing in remote locations.
This project is the first of more than 40 to be delivered across regional Victoria through the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, which will unlock around $370 million in investment and provide more than 1750 bedrooms for thousands of key workers and their families.
The delivery of Hopetoun's new worker accommodation is part of the Labor Government's record $47 billion investment to drive economic growth and make our regions even better places to live, work, invest and study.
For more information, visit rdv.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes MP
"Hopetoun residents can now get the care they need, close to home - this is a big win for locals and a terrific result made possible by our Regional Worker Accommodation Fund."
"We've invested in modern solutions to ease accommodation and worker shortages across regional Victoria, and it's encouraging to see the first of these projects ready to support better community health outcomes."
As stated by Rural Northwest Health CEO Jenni Masters
"RNH is proud to say that our project is the first project completed under the grant funding round - a testament to the incredible work of RNH and Swanbuild. RNH will now begin the process of welcoming staff to the duplexes."
As stated by Swanbuild Director Josh Perryman
"Swanbuild is proud to support the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund in Hopetoun. We believe modular housing is a game-changer when it comes to tackling Victoria's housing shortage - It's faster and highly scalable, making it the smart solution for remote, regional locations."
