A community effort for better care

OUR community is banding together to raise vital funds for our local public health service, with the launch of the Barwon Health Foundation’s Barwon Women’s and Children’s Appeal officially kicking off next month.

As the City’s Health portfolio chair, it fills me with pride to see our community’s leaders putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting our healthcare infrastructure.

On 3 July, Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre will officially open, holding its first gala ball: the Barwon Health Foundation Gala Ball, proudly presented by the City of Greater Geelong.

It’s been a hotly anticipated launch, marking one of the largest investments in our region to date.

This spectacular gala will raise funds for the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Appeal, officially launching the campaign and ensuring that this landmark venue’s first event is one of community care and health investment.

This important fundraiser will mark the commencement of the appeal, which will complement the Barwon Women’s and Children’s – the single largest government investment in health infrastructure in Geelong’s history of more than $500 million.

Currently under construction within Barwon Health’s University Hospital Geelong precinct, this project represents a big step forward for local healthcare and is set to be completed in 2028.

The Barwon Women’s and Children’s will include the construction of new buildings along with the refurbishment of existing areas within the precinct, and will ensure Barwon Health can continue to support the evolving needs of our people.

With Greater Geelong’s population projected to grow by almost 45 per cent over the next two decades, demand for essential health services is expected to rise significantly.

The need to increase dedicated women’s and children’s care services will be more pressing than ever before. This development will not only improve access for our immediate region but will also ensure families travelling from across southwest Victoria can access care closer to home.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will provide the very best maternity and paediatric facilities, delivering more capacity that our growing population sorely needs.

Barwon Women’s and Children’s will deliver additional facilities to meet the needs of the growing community by providing more maternity inpatient beds, paediatric multi-day/same day inpatient beds, birthing suites, operating theatres and expanded paediatric and maternity specialist facilities.

The project will also deliver a new neonatal and parent care unit to help families stay together, with an expansion of the existing special care nursery to provide the very best of care for vulnerable and pre-term babies in their first few weeks and months of life.

Families already make up a large share of our community, with couples with children accounting for more than 27 per cent of local households, and single-parent families making up a further 10 per cent.

The City is deeply conscious of how vital this infrastructure is to their wellbeing, which is why we are proud to partner with the Barwon Health Foundation for next month’s gala.

This partnership complements the City’s broader efforts in health and early childhood initiatives.

We recently opened the Biyala Community Hub in Armstrong Creek, providing allied health services and early learning programs in one of our region’s fastest growing areas, where preschool-aged children account for 10 per cent of the residents.

This vital facility was delivered in partnership between the City of Greater Geelong and the Victorian government, demonstrating what can be achieved when we work together for local health and wellbeing.

Nearby in Charlemont, we are also supporting the delivery of the Yirrama Community Hub to meet the needs of this growing population.

It will feature four kindergarten rooms, maternal and child health services, allied health and multipurpose community spaces.

The need for significant investment in the health of our women and children is undeniable.

To learn more about how you can support the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Appeal and be a part of this historic moment, visit bwc.barwonhealth.org.au

Cr Rowan Story

Murradoc ward,

City of Greater Geelong