University Hospital Geelong children’s emergency department

The University Hospital Geelong children’s emergency department will include:

• 28 extra dedicated treatment spaces. This includes two fast-track and eight short-stay beds
• new treatment rooms and support spaces
• separate paediatric triage system and waiting area.

The project aims to achieve the following benefits:

Providing greater access to care, close to home

The expansion of University Hospital Geelong’s emergency department aims to meet the needs of the growing population within the Geelong and Barwon community.

When complete, the facility will enable more kids and young people to be treated in a child-friendly space, while improving patient flow, safety and quality of care.

The project will deliver an extra 28 emergency department treatment spaces. This increased capacity will give more families access to emergency care, close to home.

Designed for families

Children will be treated in a new separate section of the emergency department.

Purpose-built for families, it will create a calmer and less clinical environment for children and young people receiving treatment. The design includes a play area and calming, muted tones and décor to help minimise anxiety in younger patients.

More local jobs

The project is expected to create and sustain around 60 jobs during the peak of construction.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• Barwon Health
• Silver Thomas Hanley Architecture
• Kane Constructions.

It is part of a larger 102.4 million program to deliver dedicated children’s emergency departments at five hospitals. This program is funded by both the Victorian and Federal Governments, with the Federal Government investing $40 million towards the total program cost.

The Victorian Government is delivering specially designed children’s emergency departments at five of the state’s busiest hospitals. These include:

• Casey Hospital (Monash Health)
• Frankston Hospital (Peninsula Health)
• Maroondah Hospital (Eastern Health)
• Northern Hospital (Northern Health)
• University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health)

The Federal Government invested $40 million towards the total program cost of $102.4 million.