This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Victorian government has announced Australia’s largest hospital infrastructure project in a $5-6 billion expansion of hospitals and research facilities at Arden and Parkville.
The partnership with the University of Melbourne, will see the biomedical precinct at Parkville receive major upgrades and a significant boost to staff training facilities, delivery brand new campuses at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and Royal Women’s Hospital.
“Our vision for this project doesn’t stop at new and upgraded hospitals, we’re also developing some of the best medical research and education precincts in the world – and all of that means the very best of care for Victorians,” said Daniel Andrews, premier.
The new fit-for purpose sites are set to not only attract more studies and clinical trials, with the new a new dedicated Clinical Trials Centre, but provide the most modern facilities for doctors, teachers and researchers.
“World-class research facilities for our doctors, teachers and researchers will draw investments to Victoria from around the world and generate thousands of jobs – that’s good news for our economy and great news for Victorians,” said Ben Carroll, minister for business precincts.
The government will also set up the new Victorian Digital Health Command to utilise telehealth across the state, supporting regional, rural and smaller metropolitan services.
This will include digitising services to care for patients locally through virtual care and specialist clinician-to-clinician consultation, streamlining patient flow and improving access to specialist services across the state.
At the same time the Victorian Digital Health Command, which will be co-designed by the university, will also monitor health outcomes and provide data to support future clinical trials and the development of medical technology.
“The hospital upgrades and the development of the new Arden medical precinct will drive clinical and research training, and research translation across a range of specialty areas such as cardiology, clinical haematology, dementia, neurology and stroke, mental health and neuropsychiatry,” said Duncan Maskell, vice chancellor at the University of Melbourne.
“The world-class upgrades together with the University of Melbourne’s ongoing commitment to collaborative education and practice, will equip the next generation of allied health professionals, doctors, and nurses with the skills to enter the health services workforce.”
The University of Melbourne will also build a new medical and health sciences school, promoting collaboration between the university, health institutions and hospitals.
“We’re pleased to partner with the University of Melbourne for what will be a significant boost to Victoria’s biomedical research and training capacity – and one that will mean better and faster treatments for the patients who need them,” said Jaala Pulford, minister for innovation, medical research and the digital economy.
The government will also release the Parkville Precinct Opportunity Statement as part of the project, keeping the precinct globally connected as a pre-eminent biomedical, health and research hub and the state at the forefront of medical research, driving jobs, investment and innovation.
“Victorians have worked hard to earn our reputation as a global leader in biomedicine, and now, we’re cementing our status as a global powerhouse of research and development,” concluded Andrew.
