Barwon Health North

The Victorian Government has invested $33.08 million to build a new state-of-the-art healthcare facility in the northern suburbs of Geelong.

The Barwon Health North facility will provide high quality, accessible healthcare close to home to meet the growing needs of the community. It includes an urgent care centre, medical imaging facilities, pathology, pharmacy, consulting suites and renal dialysis services.

Patients can access a range of ‘walk in’ health services. This will reduce pressure on our hospitals by giving people an alternative to going to an emergency department for non-emergency care.

The two-storey facility is located in Norlane, near the Waterworld Aquatic Centre, Corio Library and Centenary Hall.

Address

155 Princes Highway
Norlane, Victoria, 3214
Australia

FUNDING ANNOUNCEDMAY 2014
LAND PURCHASEDJUL 2017
CONSTRUCTION BEGANJUN 2018
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETEDJUL 2019
OPENEDJAN 2020

Scope
The new Barwon Health North facility provides comprehensive health services. It bridges the gap between community health and specialised services typically offered in a hospital.
The new facility includes:
- an urgent care centre
- GP ‘walk-in’ services
- renal dialysis facilities
- medical imaging
- pathology
- pharmacy
- consulting suites.
After community consultation, extra design features were included:
- adult all abilities toilet and showering facilities
- baby change facilities
- adult change table
- volunteer's space
- areas to charge mobile phones
- children’s play area
- seating in waiting areas to accommodate all abilities
- a prayer room
- a waiting area for interpreters.
The Corio Community Health Centre, which is also run by Barwon Health, will continue to operate and complement the range of services available at Barwon Health North.
Benefits

The Barwon Health North project aimed to achieve the following benefits:
Less pressure on local hospitals
The new Barwon Health North health care facility will ease the strain on the University Hospital Geelong’s busy emergency department. Patients can access a range of ‘walk in’ health services. People with sprains, cuts or minor infections can receive treatment on the spot, without an appointment.
Continuity of care
The facility provides continuity of care through coordinated health service delivery between Barwon Health North, Barwon Health, and University Hospital Geelong.
Easier for families to access services
The facility is designed to meet the need for child and family services in Geelong’s northern community. It aims to provide easy access to paediatric specialists, such as audiologists and speech pathologists, in a location that is close to home. Currently, parents have to make a trip across town for clinics and treatment. With services available locally, children and families in the area can avoid travelling into central Geelong.
The purpose-built facility was designed with a range of child-friendly features. With baby change facilities and a children’s play area, parents will have everything they need for an easy visit.
Local jobs
The project created five new construction jobs, two new apprenticeships and one trainee place during the delivery.
Partners
This project was delivered by the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority in partnership with:
- Barwon Health
- City of Greater Geelong
- Billard Leece Partnership (architect)
- Kane Constructions (builder).