With immediate effect, significant changes have been made to the rules guiding the design and construction of new health infrastructure.

The Victorian Government will build all new government buildings as all-electric, including new schools and hospitals. This will reduce emissions and reliance on gas, while realising the benefits of all-electric technology.

The policy on all-electric requirements for government buildings are being introduced so that projects that are at an advanced design stage, or already under construction are not delayed. These are critical projects being designed and delivered now to provide important services to Victorians and as such, they will continue to be built.

Some of these projects will take multiple years to complete and so there will be government building projects that continue to be built with gas, even as we move to phase out its use completely.

The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) is well-prepared for the transformational shift to all-electric public hospitals. Its 'Guidelines for sustainability in healthcare capital projects' already require all-electric infrastructure for facilities under 10,000 square meters and for other facilities to include a plan to transition away from natural gas.

In addition, for the last few years the VHBA has progressed all-electric designs for all feasibility studies for new projects, regardless of their size. This puts the health system in a favourable position to apply this policy to the significant healthcare infrastructure pipeline.

The Victorian Government will be working through the implementation details over the coming months. The government builds a broad range facilities and infrastructure including hospitals and there’s a lot of detail to work through.

We will continue to innovate and work with industry to ensure that we have a robust approach to phase out fossil gas from all new buildings. Most gas use in public hospitals is for space heating, hot water and sterilisation – which can be replaced with highly efficient electric equipment.

From 2025 all public hospitals electricity use will be sourced from renewable sources, thereby maximising the carbon benefits of building all-electric hospitals.

The VHBA is reviewing which projects may be impacted by this policy.

While the VHBA will always seek to deliver all-electric facilities, some projects may be at a stage where it is too late to implement an all-electric solution without impacts to budget and/or delivery program. Where an all-electric solution is not possible, the project will be future proofed to allow a transition away from natural gas at a later stage.

It is likely that refurbishment and fit-out projects will fall outside the scope of this policy, given that they do not involve the construction of new buildings. To support the policy intent the opportunity to convert refurbished areas to all-electric needs to be considered while being cognisant of the project’s scope, budget, and program.

The VHBA is already applying this policy to a significant part of the healthcare infrastructure pipeline.

All-electric projects already underway include:

• Arden and Royal Melbourne Hospital
• New Warragul Hospital
• Maryborough Hospital
• Barwon Women’s and Children’s
• New Melton Hospital
• Ballarat Hospital redevelopment main works
• Thomas Embling Hospital redevelopment
• Angliss Hospital redevelopment
• new aged care homes at Camperdown, Rutherglen, Orbost, and Mansfield
• the community hospitals program
• early parenting centres
• Prevention and Recovery Centres (PARCs)
• new ambulance branches.

Submissions to the 2023-24 Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) and Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund (MHIF) for construction works will need to address the new policy of all new government buildings being all-electric.

Any submissions for a new standalone building, or an expansion is to be designed and costed as an all-electric facility.

To support the policy intent, we encourage the following projects to consider, where applicable, all-electric options, while being cognisant of the overall project’s scope, budget, and program:

• refurbishment, modifications and remodelling
• meeting compliance with 'AS4187 Reprocessing of Reusable Medical Devices in Health Service Organisations' and upgrades to central sterile services departments (CSSD)
• upgrades to existing kitchens and laundries
• replacement of ageing gas infrastructure.

These submissions should address necessary upgrades and/or modifications to the broader site-wide electrical infrastructure. This includes switchboards, electrical distribution, supply augmentation, and emergency power, inclusive of spatial and structural review for any new plant and equipment.

The VHBA will review guidelines for all future grant programs to align with the new all-electric policy.

Queries relating to the 2023-24 Regional Health Infrastructure Fund can be directed to rhif.applications@health.vic.gov.au.

Queries relating to the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund (MHIF) can be directed to mhif@health.vic.gov.au.

The policy does not affect existing arrangements for emergency power.

New and existing hospitals will continue to be able to use diesel generators for emergency power.

As part of the Victorian Government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap, the VHBA is investigating the opportunities and barriers of transitioning existing health facilities away from natural gas over time.

The VHBA’s $40 million energy efficiency and solar program is supporting energy audits at 50 local, small rural, multi-purpose, early parenting centres and state-wide health services.

These audits are identifying opportunities to transition away from natural gas.

If you have any questions on the application of this policy on a project at your health service, please reach out to your nominated VHBA contact.

Queries relating to grants from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund can be directed to rhif.applications@health.vic.gov.au.

Queries relating to the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund (MHIF) can be directed to mhif@health.vic.gov.au.

All other queries can be directed to VHBA’s Environmental Sustainability team at sustainability@health.vic.gov.au.

YPARC centres provide around the clock treatment, care and support to young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing mental health challenges and/or psychological distress.

The centres are voluntary, referral-based services. Young people can continue to attend work or school, while receiving the appropriate treatment, care and support they need in a safe, home-like environment

To access YPARC services, a young person needs to have a referral from a local mental health and wellbeing service. This includes Headspace, a general practitioner or other specialist medical practitioner, such as a private psychiatrist, or be referred from an Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

YPARC centres are live-in facilities that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They provide care and support to young people experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.

YPARC services are focused on young people who need short-term care in a quiet and supportive environment - giving them time to rest and focus on themselves, their recovery and wellbeing.

Young people participate in group activities, alongside tailored individual one-to-one support based on their needs and goals

Dependant on their needs, a young person can stay at a YPARC centre for up to 28 days. The average stay is 19 days.

A number of people work at YPARC centres. They can include youth workers, youth peer workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and other clinicians

No. YPARC centres do not provide withdrawal or rehabilitation services.

Young people using YPARC services are experiencing mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. They benefit from support outside of a hospital or acute inpatient setting.

YPARC centres are discrete facilities that blend into the neighbourhood. Most YPARC centres have 10 bedrooms – so they’re like a big house. They maintain a quiet and tranquil environment to support young people on their recovery journey.

YPARC centres operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and reflect a residential home, with most of the activity of people arriving and leaving the centre reflecting similar timings to other residential houses.

The final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (Recommendation 21) recommended there is a YPARC centre in each Victorian region.

• Barwon South West – to be serviced by the new Geelong YPARC centre.
• Gippsland – to be serviced by the new Traralgon YPARC centre.
• Grampians – to be serviced by the new Ballarat YPARC centre.
• Hume – to be serviced by the new Shepparton YPARC centre.
• Loddon Mallee – there is an existing YPARC centre in Bendigo. The centre is being refurbished.
• North East Metro – to be serviced by the new Heidelberg YPARC centre.
• South East Metro – there are existing YPARC centres in Dandenong and Frankston. Both centres are being refurbished.

• Ballarat
  31-39 Durham Street, Newington
  Operated by: Grampians Health
   
• Geelong
  40 Little Fyans Street, South Geelong
  Operated by: Barwon Health
   
• Heidelberg
  Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, 300 Waterdale Road, Ivanhoe
  Operated by: Austin Health
   
• Shepparton
  5-7 Numurkah Rd and 107-109 Balaclava Road, Shepparton
  Operated by: Goulburn Valley Health
   
• Traralgon
  49-63 Hyde Park Road, Traralgon
  Operated by: Latrobe Regional Hospital

The site selection process undertaken for the new YPARC centres was based on a wide range of factors.

The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) assessed the sites against an extensive Site Evaluation Criteria. This is a technical process that requires specialist input from a site evaluation committee.

The site evaluation committee considers factors such as how the location of the proposed facility links in with the broader community and health system, site features, planning requirements, site access, proximity to related services, connections and links to public transport as well as availability for acquisition.

Given the nature of land availability, community consultation on site selection is not always possible.

YPARC centres are discrete facilities that blend into the neighbourhood. Blink and you’ll miss them!

The new centres will be designed to create a welcoming, safe and home-like environment. Each new centre will have 10 bedrooms, each complete with an ensuite bathroom. They will also include a communal kitchen, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and outdoor garden areas.

The space will provide ample room for leisure, recreational activities and visits from family and supporters.

Yes. Mental health challenges affect young people differently. This means that they can have different needs or preferences on their recovery journey.

That’s why young people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges are being engaged with to help shape the designs for the new YPARC centres.

In some areas of Victoria, young people travel significant distances to access appropriate mental health services and support.

Building YPARC centres in key regional areas gives young people better access to services closer to their family, support networks and local community – which plays a pivotal role in a young person’s recovery journey and enables them to continue their schooling or work.

Once complete, the five new YPARC centres will have the capacity to provide prevention and recovery care services to more than 900 young people each year. This will more than double current capacity.

Expanding Victoria’s YPARC centre network will help ease pressure on hospital beds by providing an alternative to hospital admission with early intervention.

Building the five new YPARC centres – and refurbishing three existing centres across Victoria will create and sustain around 200 jobs during construction.

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.

A CCC has been established for the new Melton Hospital, providing a forum for the local community to participate in the project’s planning and development through open dialogue and collaboration.

The committee is the voice for Melbourne’s outer west communities in relation to the new hospital. and provides considered advice on a range of issues.

The New Melton Hospital CCC is chaired by Steve McGhie MP, Member for Melton. Members were selected across gender, age, interests and background to ensure a diverse representation, local knowledge and perspective.

The CCC met regularly between September 2022 and May 2023 to provide input into this report and will continue to be consulted on an as needs basis as the project progresses.

The New Melton Hospital CCC members are:

• Member for Melton, Steve McGhie (Chair)
• Russell Harrison, CEO, Western Health
• Roslyn Wai, CEO, Melton City Council
• Tina Skliros, Director of PPP Projects, VHBA
• Jordan Casey, Manager of Aboriginal Health, Policy & Planning, Western Health
• Corinne Erle Area Manager, Clinical Operations, Ambulance Victoria
• Alan Perry, community member
• Amit Cheema, community member
• Andrew McDermott, community member
• Brianna Mitchell, community member
• Carmen Martin Issifu, community member
• Daniel D’Souza, community member
• Erwin De Mesa, community member
• Hajar Chlihi, community member
• James Hargreaves, community member
• Jenny Brown, community member
• Kersty Brown, community member
• Vickii Warburton, community member.

A joint VHBA, Western Health and Melton City Council Communication and Engagement Working Group has been established.

This is part of the project’s governance structure and responsible for coordination, development and management of the project’s communications and engagement activities.

The working group helped identify stakeholders and community representatives to be engaged.

This included through existing networks and forums. The working group’s communication channels were also used to promote engagement opportunities.

June 2020

• Engage Victoria online survey

November 2020

• Community survey feedback report published

June 2022

• Communications and Engagement Working Group established
• Community Consultative Committee (CCC) expression of interest released

August 2022

• ‘How we’re building Melton Hospital’ community education campaign

September 2022

• Engage Victoria online survey
• CCC meeting 1

October 2022

• Community information sessions at Cobblebank Stadium
• CCC meeting 2
• ‘What would the community like to see in the new Melton Hospital?’ interviews with community members and social media campaign.

January 2023

• Project e-newsletter to announce release of Expressions of Interest

February - April 2023

• CCC meeting workshops 3- 5

May 2023

• CCC meeting 6
• Targeted stakeholder workshops

June 2023

• Announcement of shortlisted bidders
• Release of RFP announcement: Project e-newsletter and social media campaign.

July 2023 – mid 2024 (planned)

• Community consultation report published
• Next phase of communications: raising awareness of the project scope and timelines while procurement process is underway, engagement with project site neighbours ahead of the start of construction in 2024