Tenders for construction have been called to deliver a new community-based mental health facility at St John's Park in New Town that will house important mental health services, along with 15 new inpatient beds.
The mental health facility is the first stage of the long-awaited St John's Park redevelopment, which is part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government's plan to build new and upgraded health infrastructure across the State, backed in by record funding of more than $682.9 million in this year's Budget.
The new facility will be similar to the recently completed Peacock Centre in North Hobart, and will offer a 15-bed residential unit, a Mental Health Integration Hub, a Safe Haven and a Recovery College.
It will also accommodate the main hub of the Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
A new 12-bed Tasmanian Eating Disorders Service (TEDS) will also be co-located with these services and will include a day program area and consulting hub.
Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jeremy Rockliff, said that St John's Park was part of the Government's plan to transform the way mental health services are delivered in Tasmania.
"The development of the St John's Park facility will significantly improve the outcomes for mental health patients by ensuring they can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
"We know that more often than not the best place for people to receive mental health care and support is in a community setting, rather than in our hospitals, and these services will reduce presentations to our emergency departments."
"This project is a significant part of our plan to transform our mental health infrastructure and services into a contemporary, world-class system that is available to all Tasmanians."
Construction for the mental health facility is set to begin by the end of 2023 and is due for completion in 2025.
This tender follows the Tasmanian Government's commitment of $2 million in the 2023-24 Tasmanian Budget for the wider St John's Park Health Precinct Masterplan.
