Wednesday April 10, 2024
Communities helping to shape Barwon Women’s and Children’s
Planning for the Barwon Women’s and Children’s is well underway, with staff and community having a voice in shaping this vital new facility.
Chaired by the Member for Geelong Christine Couzens, the Community Consultative Committee brought together community members from around the region to have their say.
The Barwon Women’s and Children’s Community Consultative Committee was established to provide a forum for local community members to provide input into the design of the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Project through open dialogue and consultation.
From the many submissions received, 15 community members were chosen to work alongside representatives from the Wathaurong Co-Operative, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, City of Greater Geelong, Barwon Health and the Victorian Health Building Authority.
The committee met regularly to give feedback on local community health needs, represent the community’s diverse views, and comment on emerging issues, opportunities and priorities of the community.
The Barwon Women’s and Children’s project team is committed to ensuring local community can have their say on this flagship project. As part of this, Barwon Health and the Victorian Health Building Authority also hosted targeted workshops with community members who may have specific needs and interests.
In 2023, the team hosted three workshops with attendees from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, along with past patients and LGBTIQA+ communities, providing an opportunity to give input on key aspects of the new Barwon Women’s and Children’s. This included building and environment design, accessibility, and incorporating local stories and histories into building design and communication channel preferences.
The wider community also had the opportunity to provide vital feedback via an online survey, which sought input into key areas of design, including the patient and family experience, the vision for family and outdoor spaces, accessibility and wayfinding.
A summary of what we heard and how input is shaping designs has now been released via a Consultation Summary Report. The input captured from the community has been shared with the project’s architects for consideration as they continue to develop the facility’s designs. Final designs for the Barwon Women’s and Children’s are expected to be completed in late 2024, along with the commencement of main construction works.
