New designs unveiled for Barwon Women’s and Children’s

NEW designs for the Barwon Women’s and Children’s have been revealed by the Victorian government.

The $500 million project will be built within Barwon Health’s University Hospital Geelong precinct, with the designs giving an early look into the new maternity ward, inpatient rooms and play spaces.

As the biggest health infrastructure project in Geelong’s history, the new facility will also include additional multi-day beds, birthing suits, operating theatres and out-patient clinic rooms.

The hospital’s present capacity and function of the special care nursery will be expanded with a new neonatal and parent care unit, providing sick and pre-term babies with care.

Extensive community consultation has helped shape the new Barwon Women’s and Children through online surveys, workshops and the Community Consultative Committee.

“We’re delivering the new Barwon Women’s and Children’s in the growing Geelong region, ensuring families will be able to get the very best maternity and paediatric care, closer to home,” Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas said.

“It’s critically important we build a facility that represents the community it serves-which is why we’re listening to the community to shape this flagship project for the region.”

More than 600 ideas for the health service were contributed from locals across the region, while input was sought on the community’s aspirations and values, accessibility, wayfinding, cultural safety and the look of the facility.

Input has been shared with the architects for consideration while the designs continue to develop.

The final designs are expected to be completed in late 2024 along with the commencement of main construction works.

“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed their ideas towards the project to date, and in particular the community advisory group – the Barwon Women’s and Children’s will truly reflect our community,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.

It’s expected the new facility will be completed in 2029.