New Melton Hospital Community Consultation Report - How we engaged

The project team held two drop-in information sessions at Cobblebank Stadium in October 2022. These sessions were to build support for the project, raise awareness and answer questions from community.

The sessions provided an opportunity to clarify project timelines and scope. They also allowed community members to contribute input into the look and feel of key indoor and outdoor spaces.

Approximately 60 community members attended the two sessions.

In 2020, a ‘Future Healthcare in Melton’ online survey asked residents of Melton and surrounding areas for input into:

• the healthcare services they use
• what’s important to them
• what they value.

Over 1,500 community members responded. Their responses helped inform the business case for the new Melton Hospital.

In 2022, a further survey asked what it means to build a hospital for the outer west and sought input on accessibility, wayfinding and the preferred look and feel of the hospital’s design.

Approximately 350 community members responded to the survey.

The CCC met six times, including:

• an induction session in September 2022
• four working sessions to generate and prioritise ideas for the new hospital.

Working session 1: Tour of new Footscray Hospital

In October 2022 the CCC toured the site of the New Footscray Hospital.

The group discussed the public private partnership (PPP) model and learned how the feedback from the CCC and community helped shape the design.

Working session 2: Vision, aspirations and community assets

In February 2023, the CCC met at Western BACE, Cobblebank.

The committee worked in three groups, completing the following sentences to workshop ideas:

• ‘Building the new hospital will mean…’
• ‘The unique things about the outer west are…’
• 'When building the new Melton Hospital, our greatest hopes are…’

This exercise generated over 150 ideas. The groups then prioritised the ideas they found most important.

Working session 3: Creating a safe and welcoming environment

In March 2023, the CCC met to discuss wayfinding and access, cultural safety and connections to the Cobblebank Precinct. Members shared their ideas and priorities about:

• arriving/departing the hospital: considering connections, accessibility and safety when arriving and departing a hospital
• navigating your way around the hospital: what would make it easier to find your way around the new hospital?
• creating a safe and welcoming environment: what makes visiting a hospital challenging? What does cultural safety look like? What are some of the features/services you’d like to see to help you feel welcome, safe and supported?

Over 140 ideas were generated at this session.

Working session 4: Look and feel of indoor and outdoor spaces

In April 2023, the CCC met to share their ideas and priorities about the new hospital’s design for key areas. The workshop included a presentation from the project architects on design objectives and principles.

Committee members were invited to share thoughts on:

• hospital look and feel
• shared spaces such as main foyer and waiting rooms
• outdoor features, such as landscaping and greenery
• public artwork.

Over 105 ideas were generated at this session.

In May 2023, consultation workshops were held with hard-to-reach community members, including First Nations, young families, seniors and carers, and individuals with lived experience of mental health.

In a safe and inclusive environment, we asked participants to share their experiences and ideas around the theme: creating a Melton Hospital that is accessible, inclusive and welcoming.

Over 160 ideas were generated at these sessions.