Energy Efficiency and Solar Program
The Victorian Government's Energy Efficiency and Solar Program, supported by a $40 million investment, is driving sustainable progress in health services statewide.
The program will install solar panels and improve energy efficiency in public hospitals, aged care facilities, and ambulance stations. By upgrading lighting, enhancing building management systems, and transitioning to electric infrastructure, the program aims to substantially reduce energy consumption and emissions while maintaining or enhancing healthcare service quality.
VHBA In Brief: March 2024
Welcome to VHBA In Brief
Welcome to the latest Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) newsletter, VHBA In Brief.
In this issue:
- $40M for metro health infrastructure
- $79.7M+ for regional health infrastructure
- Early Parenting Centre for Casey
- Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment a step closer
- Barwon Women and Children’s community survey report
- Women in Construction Week
- job and procurement opportunities.
Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date on our announcements and project updates.
$40M for metro health infrastructure
Melbourne health services are sharing $40 million in funding from the latest round of the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund.
The fund supports metropolitan health and community health services and Aboriginal health organisations to undertake vital upgrades to infrastructure and equipment.
In total, 29 projects across 27 health services have been funded.
Read about the funded projects
Regional Health Infrastructure Fund
More than $79.7 million for regional health infrastructure upgrades

Funding is being provided to city and suburban health services
In the spotlight
New Early Parenting Centre for Casey
Parents and caregivers in Casey and surrounding communities can now access more specialised support to care for their little ones up to four years old.
The centre includes:
- 10 residential family units
- four day stay places
- kitchen and dining areas
- playrooms
- outdoor play areas.
Casey Early Parenting Centre is in Clyde North
Accessible transcript
TEXT ON SCREEN: The new, multi-million dollar Casey Early Parenting Centre is now complete
IMAGES: Aerial view of the new centre amongst its surrounding suburb
TEXT ON SCREEN: It’s the third brand new Early Parenting centre to open its doors in Victoria in six months
IMAGES: Aerial view directly above the site, followed by a sweeping aerial view
TEXT ON SCREEN: Take a look inside
IMAGES: View of the side of the facility seen from fence line
TEXT ON SCREEN: Early Parenting centres support parents and caregivers with babies and toddlers from 0-4 years old
IMAGES: View down a main corridor with the reception area to the right, followed by a close-up of children’s toys on a small table with chairs
TEXT ON SCREEN: They aim to enhance the parent-child relationship and support parents with strategies for achieving their parenting goals
IMAGES: View directly above the centre showing multiple solar panels on the roof, followed by an outside garden area between units
TEXT ON SCREEN: The centre includes: residential family units, day-stay places, shared kitchen and dining areas, multipurpose rooms and play areas
IMAGES: Aerial view of the centre featuring it’s extensive outside garden spaces, followed by a family unit, large activity space filled with toys and activity equipment, and a spacious dining area and kitchen
IMAGES: Sweeping aerial view of the centre
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.
Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment one step closer
The Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment is a step closer with the central energy plant and support services CEPSS building reaching its maximum height.
This is a significant milestone for stage two of the massive $595 million redevelopment.
The Ballarat Base Hospital six-storey CEPSS building has officially 'topped out'
Accessible transcript
TEXT ON SCREEN: Ballarat Base Hospital's six-storey central energy plant and support services building has 'topped out'
IMAGES: Aerial view of the hospital amongst its surrounding suburbs, followed by time lapse footage of the central energy plant and support services building under construction
TEXT ON SCREEN: Once complete, the new building will supply power, heating and cooling to the hospital and house a state-of-the-art pharmacy, pathology services and an education and learning centre
IMAGES: Time lapse footage of construction work on the final level of the new building followed by an aerial view of Ballarat seen from Lake Wendouree
TEXT ON SCREEN: A builder has been appointed to deliver the next stage of the redevelopment, with main works starting soon
IMAGES: Artist impressions of the future hospital redevelopment seen from the carpark and of the main entrance
TEXT ON SCREEN: The redevelopment will deliver a new multi-level hospital tower, new emergency department, more beds and more theatres
IMAGES: Sweeping aerial view of the hospital, followed by an artist impression of the future redevelopment
TEXT ON SCREEN: Your bigger and better Ballarat Base Hospital is on track to be completed in 2027
IMAGES: An aerial view of Ballarat seen from Lake Wendouree
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.

Meet the women behind Ballarat's big build
Women in Construction Week: We went behind the build and met the women driving the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment.

Investing in women to build equality
International Women's Day: See how four women working at VHBA are driving progress in health infrastructure.
Project pulse
See our latest project updates and milestones:
- Barwon Women's and Children's: Builder appointed, Community survey report
- Warrnambool Base Hospital redevelopment: Builder appointed for next stage
- Westside Lodge dual diagnosis unit expansion: Completed
- Traralgon YPARC centre: Construction starts
In case you missed it
Careers
We're hiring! See our page on Careers.Vic to explore VHBA opportunities.
- Senior Project Manager: Clinical (VPSG6) (closing 26/03/2024)
- Senior Project Manager: Engineering (VPSG6) (closing 26/03/2024)
- Project Manager, Energy Programs (VPSG5) (closing 22/03/2024)
Procurement
Recently published:
- Casey Hospital Emergency Department Expansion Project - Work Packages
We encourage suppliers to register on Buying for Victoria (tenders.vic.gov.au) and the Industry Capability Network to view VHBA offers to supply.
Find out more about VHBA procurement.
Subscribe to stay up to date

Keep up to date with the projects that matter to you. Sign up to get the latest news and infrastructure updates from VHBA.