The Allan Labor Government's redevelopment of the Thomas Embling Hospital in Fairfield has reached a key milestone with the completion of the new Main Entry Building, the first major building delivered as part of the $515.7 million project.
Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne announced the delivery of the new building, which provides visitors and staff with a peaceful and accessible pathway in and out of the hospital.
The Main Entry Building features a family and carers lounge that is full of light and includes soft furniture, a kitchenette, a parents' room, restrooms and spaces for staff. It makes use of colours, materials, finishes and acoustic treatments to create a calming environment.
A co-design approach is at the centre of the Thomas Embling Hospital expansion project so that the first-hand experiences of consumers, carers and clinicians shapes its planning and design.
The project delivers on a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System to have co-design at the heart of all new mental health infrastructure, incorporating the knowledge of Victorians with lived experiences in the mental health space.
Co-design with Traditional Owners led to the incorporation of Wurundjeri stories, images and symbols to create a safe and welcoming space grounded in Country.
The landmark Thomas Embling Hospital expansion will reduce wait times for mental health assessment and treatment and ensure Victorians most at risk can access services in a secure, contemporary and recovery-focused environment.
Once completed, the redevelopment will provide an additional 82 secure mental health beds, including a 34-bed women's precinct and a 48-bed medium security men's facility, as well as administration facilities and more car parking.
The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with Forensicare, builder John Holland and Guymer Bailey Architects, with expansion works due for completion in 2025.
Since the Royal Commission, significant progress has been made with work underway to implement more than 90 per cent of its recommendations and more than $6 billion invested in the system over the past three years.
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne
"We're wasting no time in transforming Victoria's mental health system so that patients, carers and staff can access modern facilities in a recovery-focused environment."
As stated by Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
"The thoughtful co-design at the heart of the Thomas Embling Hospital project is producing fantastic results - as this new entry building shows."
As stated by Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous
"This landmark project is transforming the way forensic mental health services are delivered in Victoria, ensuring that those at highest risk receive urgent care in a setting that is fit for purpose."
