Construction of the Victorian Government’s modern new home for Ballarat Hospice has begun.
Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford turned the first sod on the $6.2 million project, which will give the service room to grow and meet increasing demand for compassionate end-of-life care in the region.
This project will build a contemporary palliative care hub with modern clinical and family counselling rooms, a multi-purpose education suite, e-health technology, secure reception and equipment storage and better amenities for families and visitors.
Ballarat Hospice currently operates from a heritage-listed church that has limited space to meet with clients and families, or train staff and volunteers. This funding will finally give the service the modern facilities it deserves.
The project is expected to be complete by late 2019, and will help expand access to high quality, community-based palliative care services to people in Ballarat and beyond.
Ballarat Hospice will receive $2 million in 2018/19 to provide specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers living in Ballarat, Hepburn, Golden Plains and Moorabool.
The Victorian Government invests around $144.7 million per year on palliative care services to support more terminally ill Victorians to be cared for, and die, at home – as well as an additional $62 million boost over five years that will provide home-based palliative care for additional 1,215 people and their families.
Across regional Victoria, this investment creates capacity for extra physicians, nurse consultants, nurse practitioners, social workers and allied health positions for regional palliative care consultancy services.
The $250 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund – the largest of its kind in Victorian history – will rebuild rural and regional hospitals to ensure all Victorians can access the high quality care and facilities they need, no matter where they live. So far, the fund has delivered more than 173 projects across 90 health services in rural Victoria.
Source: Vic Government