NEW FOOTSCRAY HOSPITAL DELIVERING FOR THE WEST

Thursday, 21 April 2022

The Andrews Labor Government’s massive $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital project is delivering jobs, community partnerships and opportunities for Melbourne’s west.

Since construction started on the new hospital in early 2021, more than $48 million is expected to be invested through indigenous and social enterprises, including disability and disadvantaged businesses which will create employment opportunities.

The new Footscray Hospital Jobs Hub is supporting people in the western suburbs connect to jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities both onsite and at Victoria University Polytechnic.

The Jobs Hub, in partnership with the project’s Connectivity Centre, has now established relationships with more than 100 local community partners and connected 45 individuals identifying as disabled, indigenous or from disadvantaged backgrounds into job ready programs, training or employment opportunities in the local area.

Around 21,000 hours worked on the project to date have been completed by trainees, apprentices, cadets, indigenous people, people with a disability and disadvantaged Victorians.

Member for Footscray Katie Hall recently joined the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation to kick off the first Youth Leadership Project for the year.

The project is being supported with a five-year sponsorship by the Plenary Health consortium which, along with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health, are delivering the new $1.5 billion hospital.

The Youth Leadership Project is a six-month program for young people aged between 14 and 16 years, designed to enhance capacities in leadership, teamwork, communication, goal setting, support networks and resilience and is heading into its second year of sponsorship by the new Footscray Hospitals’ consortium.

Youth Junction’s Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma (P.A.R.T.Y) Program will also benefit from sponsorship by the project consortium, with the program helping young people in Melbourne’s West understand risks, choices and consequences associated with unsafe driving, drinking and other risky behaviours.

The new Footscray Hospital is set to open in 2025.

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley  

“This is the largest health infrastructure investment in Victoria’s history, and it’s so important that this significant project benefits the whole community.”

Quote attributable to member for Footscray Katie Hall

“From job seekers to local business owners to healthcare workers – we want to make sure we’re maximising all the opportunities available for Melbourne’s west.”