The Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), valued at $790 million overall, provides vital government funding to rural and regional health services and agencies across Victoria. This ensures these services can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities.
Established in 2016, the fund is the largest program of its type in Victoria and was created to improve:
We’re delivering a new Community Health Hub at 244 Flinders Street, Melbourne.
In partnership with cohealth, the new Community Health Hub will offer primary health and wrap around services, an enhanced outreach program, and a care coordination model to connect people with the care and support they need.
It will connect people in the CBD to vital health care and social supports, with dedicated teams providing practical assistance and coordinated care for those who need it most.
Major construction is on track for completion in mid 2026.
Through the Be Onsite program, Madison, Frankston local, was supported into her landscaping apprenticeship.
[Images: Madison is talking in front of some newly planted trees at the Frankston Hospital site]
[Text on screen: Madison Counsell, Landscaping Apprentice, Landscape Plus]
Madison: My name's Madison and I'm a first-year apprentice with Landscape Plus.
[Images: Madison is planting native shrubs in a garden area]
Madison: I'm helping plant all the plants in the courtyards on the Frankston Hospital redevelopment project.
[Images: Madison is examining the leaves of a native tree outside the new hospital tower]
Madison: I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do as a career and the onsite program put me, a position with Lend Lease.
[Images: close up of leaves on a native tree; aerial view of the new hospital development]
Madison: What I really enjoy about the program is I've been involved in such like a massive project and it's like, it's been awesome.
[Images: sweeping aerial view of the new hospital development; Madison standing in the external courtyard of the new tower with native plants in green spaces]
Madison: I grew up down the Mornington Peninsula and I actually was born here. Being so like close to home has been awesome, and just being able to give back to the community has been great too.
[Images: A partnership screen with a white background displays the text ‘In partnership with’ and the ‘Peninsula Health’ and ‘Exemplar health’ logos]
[Images: A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]
End of transcript.
When Madison graduated with a Certificate in Construction in 2024, the Be Onsite program and builder Lendlease supported her transition into an apprenticeship role at Landscape Plus.
Now, Madison is working on the planning, design and planting of more than 11,000m2 of green space. Using plants from Knoxbrooke Nursery, Australia’s largest social enterprise which employs more than 85 adults with diverse abilities.
Nick now calls Frankston his second home, working on the redevelopment as a Graduate Site Engineer with the construction team.
[Images: Nick is talking in front of the new tower development at the Frankston Hospital site]
[Text on screen: Nick Belo, Graduate Site Engineer, Lendlease]
Nick: My name is Nick Belo. I’m a Graduate Site Engineer working for Lendlease on the Frankston Hospital redevelopment project.
[Images: Nick is walking around looking at external and internal areas of the new development]
Nick: I love being onsite every day, working with trades, collaborate with different people and building something that makes a difference.
[Images: Nick examines a stairwell and surrounds inside the tower]
Nick: Thanks to Lendlease I’ve been privileged to work on project and gain real hands-on experience on something that truly matters to community.
[Images: Nick looks upwards at the new tower from the adjoining street]
Nick: I lived in Kyiv, Ukraine and studied civil engineering. Even though I’m not originally from here I consider Frankston my second home now.
[Images: Nick is talking in front of the new tower development at the Frankston Hospital site]
Nick: To contribute to a life-changing project like this is great.
[Images: A partnership screen with a white background displays the text ‘In partnership with’ and the ‘Peninsula Health’ and ‘Exemplar health’ logos]
[Images: A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]
End of transcript.
Nick arrived in Frankston after fleeing war-torn Ukraine in 2022. Previously studying engineering in Ukraine, Nick enrolled in a Diploma of Building and Construction at Holmesglen and joined Asuria’s Transition to Work program.
Joining the Lendlease team as a cadet, Nick found new beginnings on the Frankston Hospital redevelopment project. Excelling in his role, Nick moved into a Graduate Site Engineer role where he supports and collaborates with the construction team.
apprentices, trainees and cadets have contributed to the project so far
worked onsite have been contributed by Victorians who are more likely to experience disadvantage
have been contributed by First Nations workers
Be Onsite is a workforce development program provided by The Exchange. The social initiative is run by Lendlease and the Exemplar Health consortium.
Learn more about the Frankston Hospital redevelopment.
The $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment is helping local young people and Victorians experiencing disadvantage to build their skills and gain real-life employment opportunities.
Now in its final months of major construction, the redevelopment has helped build careers and a strong pipeline of skilled young workers. Over 400 apprentices, trainees and cadets have contributed to the project so far, 16 of whom were supported by one of the project’s social initiatives, the Be Onsite program.
This program supports young people who face barriers, providing training and on-the-job experience working on a massive infrastructure project.
Meet two young Frankston locals who’ve contributed to the redevelopment:
