FAMILIES in Mernda, Doreen, Plenty and nearby suburbs will soon benefit from faster, more accessible emergency care.
Construction has started on the expanded Austin Hospital Emergency Department, with works announced by Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage on Tuesday.
“This expansion is about making the experience better for everyone – patients, families and the health workers who care for them.
“Just like the upgrade of the Northern Hospital ED, this expansion is about easing wait times and providing more care, when families need it most. More treatment spaces and a dedicated paediatric area will make a real difference,” Ms Kathage said.
The new three-storey emergency department will treat an extra 30,000 patients each year. It will include 29 additional treatment spaces and an upgraded short stay unit, helping patients receive care sooner and allowing patients to return to the road faster.
A key feature is a dedicated paediatric emergency zone, creating a calmer, family-friendly space for children needing urgent care, closer to home.
Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines said: “this expanded ED will be a game changer for the local families, with a dedicated paediatric zone and more treatment spaces helping deliver care sooner.”
The project will also deliver improved staff amenities and clinical administration species, supporting frontline health workers caring for a rapidly growing population.
During the first phase, workers will establish sit sheds, demolish entrance facades at both Austin and Mercy Hospital for Women, and build access to tunnels so patients and visitors can move safely between hospitals while construction continues.
The existing main entrances will be closed temporarily, with wayfinding, signage and volunteers in place to guide visitors. Both Austin and Mercy will remain open throughout the project, with the delivery team working closely with hospital staff to minimise disruption.
Member for Eltham Vicki Ward said that: “not only will the new ED help to drive down wait times for locals, it will also get our paramedics back on the road sooner where they are needed most.”
The project forms part of a broader investment in Victoria’s north, alongside $813 million redevelopment of the Northern Hospital. That upgrade will deliver a new emergency department, including a mental health and AOD (alcohol or drug) hub. New patient beds, acute behaviour treatment spaces and a paediatric zone.
Construction on the Austin Hospital expansion is scheduled for completion in 2028. The State Government is funding the project through a $275 million investment in the 2024/25 Victorian Budget.
The upgrade will expand one of Victoria’s busiest emergency departments, helping meet rising demand in Melbourne’s north and north-east regions while also supporting staff and families.
“The new Austin ED will support so many people across the community, delivering world-class care on their doorstep,” said Colin Brooks, Member for Bundoora.
