Update - University of Canberra Public Hospital

Invitation to the event

On Monday 8 February HCCA staff attended the smoking ceremony and sod turning for the University of Canberra Public Hospital, the new rehabilitation hospital which is being built on the grounds of the University of Canberra. 

HCCA has been very involved with this project. Our involvement dates back to 2010 when we first proposed a sub-acute hospital to the then Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher.

Since that time we have undertaken plenty of research, reading articles, attending conferences, talking to consumers about their experience, and visiting similar facilities in other places. All of this informs the positions we take when we advocate for design of the building - including car parks - as well as the way care will be delivered. 

Yelin Hung, Darlene Cox and Nick Wales at the site of UCPH.

Consumer representatives have participated in User Groups to date. These are groups that bring together consumers and clinicians to consider planning issues. User groups have been focussed on many aspects of the design, including the main foyer, hydrotherapy, pharmacy, equipment loans, medical imaging inpatient rooms, rehabilitation day services and pathology.

An important aspect of the event was a smoking ceremony, to cleanse and refresh the land before construction begins.

Duncan Smoth from Wiradjuri Echoes conducting the smoking ceremony

Minister for Health, Simon Corbell

Following the smoking ceremony, both Andrew Barr MLA, the Chief Minster and Simon Corbell MLA, the Minister of Health spoke, outlining the role the University of Canberra Public Hospital will play in helping improve access to health services for the ACT. The Chief Minister also stated that health is the Government's number one priority. 

Finally to mark the official start to construction of the University of Canberra Public Hospital Andrew Barr MLA, Simon Corbell MLA, Meegan Fitzharris MLA, Chris Bourke MLA and Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Parker turned the first sod on the site. And yes, there were a few jokes about how many Minsiters and Vice Chancellors it takes to turn a sod.

Handshakes all round for the sod turning.

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks, with the fence up around the site on the corner of Aikman and Ginninderra Drives in Bruce. The site is clearly marked with a banner on the whole external fence.

Work is also continuing on the Final Sketch Plan for the hospital with great involvement from consumer representatives. Last week the consumer representatives that will be involved in the User Groups came along to and induction to have a look at the current plans and what will be involved in the User Groups. It’s fantastic to have so much involvement from our members to help improve the design.

The current date for completion and opening of University of Canberra Public Hospital will is early 2018.

There is more information online, including this video.

Darlene Cox

Executive Director