The Allan Labor Government is getting on with delivering world-class healthcare for families in Melbourne's north eastern suburbs, with major works to expand the emergency department at the Austin Hospital officially underway.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne today visited the hospital in Heidelberg to make the significant milestone - made possible by a $275 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2024/25.
Once complete, the new three-storey expanded emergency department will have the capacity to treat 30,000 more emergency presentations each year, adding up to 29 extra treatment spaces and an upgraded short stay unit - treating patients sooner and getting paramedics back on the road where they are needed most.
No parent wants to see their child unwell, so a dedicated paediatric zone within the emergency department will create better services in a calm, family-friendly environment for both patients and their families, closer to home.
The upgrade will also give the dedicated health workers expanded staff amenities and improved clinical administration spaces, ensuring they have the best facilities to care for families in this growing area of Melbourne.
During the first phase of the complex construction, workers will establish site sheds, demolish the facades at the entrances to both the Austin and Mercy Hospital for Women and build access tunnels to allow patients and visitors to move between the two hospitals while works are underway.
To enable construction of the new building, these existing main entrances will be closed for the duration of the works to make way for a new entrance - during this time, wayfinding, signage and volunteers will be in place to help guide people where they need to go.
Both hospitals will remain open during construction with the project delivery team working closely with the health services to minimise disruptions, ensuring this vital upgrade can be delivered alongside existing patient care.
The project is part of the Labor Government's Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund, investing $1.6 billion to redevelop three of Victoria's busiest metropolitan hospitals, with construction underway on each project.
At the Northern Hospital an $813 million redevelopment will deliver a new emergency department, including a mental health and AOD hub, new inpatient beds, a dedicated acute behaviour treatment space and a paediatric treatment zone.
While a $535 million upgrade at Monash Medical Centre will see a new seven level tower that will include an operating theatre complex, a new intensive care unit, an expanded birthing unit and maternity inpatient beds.
The three projects will support Victoria's construction workforce creating 3,700 jobs during the construction period.
The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and Built, in partnership with Austin Health and Mercy Health, with construction on track to be completed in 2028.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We said we would expand the Austin Hospital's emergency department and that is exactly what we are doing."
"It's only a Labor Government who invests in our hospitals, and this project, along with our $15 billion pipeline of health infrastructure projects across the state is proof."
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne
"The new three-storey emergency department expansion will provide families in the growing north-east with better care, closer to home with the capacity to treat 30,000 more patients each year once it is complete."
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"The Austin's ED is one Victoria's busiest, seeing more than 88,000 presentations in 2024/25 alone - that's why this expansion is so critical to support patients and our world-class frontline workers now and into the future."
As stated by Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
"This expanded ED will be a game changer for the local families, with a dedicated paediatric zone and more treatment spaces helping deliver care sooner."
As stated by Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks
"The new Austin ED will support so many people across the community, delivering world-class care on their doorstep."
