The Victorian Government has committed more than $500 million to provide improved facilities for women’s and children’s health services at Barwon Health. This commitment includes an initial 2018 $100 million State Government commitment and a 2019 $50 million commitment from the Commonwealth Government.

Barwon Women’s and Children’s will enable Barwon Health to significantly expand women’s and children’s services at Barwon Health. The construction of new buildings and refurbishment of the existing Bellerine Centre will ensure Barwon Health can continue to meet the growing needs of its community.

Barwon Women’s and Children’s will include new operating theatres and expanded paediatric and postnatal inpatient units, birthing suites, neonatal and parent care unit (expanding the role and function of the existing special care nursery), maternity assessment unit and women’s and paediatric specialist clinics. This will be integrated into Barwon Health’s existing services to provide local access for Geelong and the Barwon South West region.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will be built within the University Hospital Geelong precinct.

The new facilities will comprise new buildings to the east and west of the Bellarine Centre on Myers Street, redevelopment within the Bellarine Centre and a new front entrance for the UHG.

Site preparations commenced in September 2022 with the demolition of Myers House, on the corner of Bellerine and Myers Streets.

Enabling works are set to commence in early 2024. These works will relocate the Endoscopy and Day Procedure Unit from the Gretta Volum Centre to the Youang Surgery Centre, clearing the way for main works construction.

It will not be located on the former Geelong Private Hospital site (the former “Baxter House”) that is now home to the Youang Surgery Centre at University Hospital Geelong.

Barwon Health will continue to operate women’s and children’s health services as part of University Hospital Geelong.

Barwon Health is a public health service.

The Victorian Government is investing more than $500 million in funding for the new Barwon Women’s and Children’s in the 2022-23 State Budget.

The total estimated investment includes $50 million in funding from the Commonwealth Government as part of the Community Health and Hospitals Program agreement.

The Victorian Government is also investing $20 million to deliver a new emergency department zone for children at the University Hospital Geelong precinct.

Located within the existing emergency department, the dedicated paediatric zone will have its own entrance and will provide a calm and comfortable environment for children and their families.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will be designed to ensure easy access from the new children’s emergency facilities as part of an integrated hospital precinct.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will deliver expanded facilities  to enable Barwon Health to meet the growing needs of Geelong and surrounding communities.

The demand for women’s and children’s services in the region is expected to increase significantly in coming years, driven by the growing population in the region.

Barwon Women’s and Children’s will provide expanded facilities at University Hospital Geelong to allow more families to access care in Geelong, minimising the need to travel to Melbourne.

Early works included the demolition of the old Myers House on the corner of Bellerine and Myers Streets in 2022.

Enabling works are set to commence in early 2024. These works will relocate the Endoscopy and Day Procedure Unit from the Gretta Volum Centre to the Youang Surgery Centre, clearing the way for the main construction works.

The Gretta Volum Centre will be demolished when these early works are complete to clear the way for major construction.

Major construction is on track to start in late 2024.

We are committed to ensuring the accessibility, safety and wellbeing of staff and community are supported at all times during construction.

The construction approach will ensure existing services at University Hospital Geelong continue to operate with as little disruption as possible.

Barwon Health will work closely with contractors to minimise disruptions to neighbouring residents and businesses.

Works notices will be issued to nearby residents and businesses in advance of any expected disruptions such as changes to traffic or works expected to generate noise or dust.

Increased capacity and options within specialist clinics and hospital services will mean more families can receive care closer to home.

Workforce planning will take place over the next five years to support the project.

We expect the expanded facilities and model of care will attract clinicians and health workers from across the state.

For the latest career opportunities, click here.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will integrate with existing University Hospital Geelong services and will deliver additional capacity to meet increasing demand in the Barwon South West region.

The new facilities will provide:

  • more maternity inpatient beds
  • more paediatric multi-day/same day inpatient beds
  • more special care nursery cots
  • more birthing suites
  • more operating theatres
  • expanded paediatric and maternity outpatient facilities.

Barwon Health and project partners are committed to working with local suppliers and trades. To find out more, click here.

Page last updated: April 16, 2024