Footscray Hospital: building a better west
"I’m the daughter of a builder, so I am especially excited to be here", said Minister for Health, Ms Jenny Mikakos in her welcome speech kicking-off VU’s first new Footscray Hospital Industry Briefing.
The event, co-organised by VU and the Department of Health and Human Services and held at Footscray Park Campus, was attended by more than 350 infrastructure specialists. It marks the official launch of the tender process which hopes to attract a range of potential industry partnerships in construction, maintenance and design.
Expected to open in 2025, the new Footscray Hospital site, located next to VU’s Footscray Park Campus (corner of Geelong and Ballarat Roads), will help meet the demand in Melbourne’s ever-expanding western suburbs and provide state-of-the-art care for patients.
Guests at the industry briefing included:
- Mr Wade Noonan, MP
- Professor Peter Dawkins, Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University
- Professor Richard Constantine, Vice-President Engagement & Resources
- Ms Katie Hall, MP.
Stephen Wall, the CEO of Maribyrnong City Council, who are strategic partners with Victoria University, said, "This is an exciting moment for us. We work closely with VU’s Vice-Chancellor and believe this site is the perfect location for the new Footscray Hospital. Footscray’s population is growing and the hospital will meet the health needs of the entire community, and the 1.5 billion dollar project will create local jobs and uplift businesses."
Ms Tina Skliros, Director, Public Private Partnerships at Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority, said their main objectives included improving access to quality care for those in the west of Melbourne, developing integrated care that extends beyond the hospital and creating a vibrant community that fosters collaboration, training and research. “Bring us your smarts!”, Skliros said, adding “This is an exciting venture for everyone involved.”
