Major works have begun to expand the emergency department at Austin Hospital in Heidelberg, backed by a $275 million Victorian Government investment.
The project will deliver a new three-storey expanded emergency department with capacity to treat 30,000 additional emergency presentations each year, adding up to 29 extra treatment spaces and an upgraded short stay unit.
A dedicated paediatric zone will be built within the emergency department to provide improved services in a calm, family-friendly environment for children and their families.
The upgrade will also deliver expanded staff amenities and improved clinical administration spaces to support health workers caring for patients in Melbourne’s growing north-east.
Early works will include establishing site sheds, demolishing facades at the main entrances to both Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, and building access tunnels to maintain movement between the two hospitals during construction.
The existing main entrances will be closed for the duration of the works to allow construction of a new entrance, with wayfinding, signage and volunteers in place to guide patients and visitors.
Both hospitals will remain operational throughout construction, with the project delivery team working closely with health services to minimise disruption to patient care.
The project forms part of a broader hospital infrastructure program redeveloping three metropolitan hospitals.
At the Northern Hospital, an $813 million redevelopment will deliver a new emergency department, a mental health and alcohol and other drugs hub, new inpatient beds, an acute behaviour treatment space and a paediatric treatment zone.
At Monash Medical Centre, a $535 million upgrade will deliver a new seven-level tower including an operating theatre complex, a new intensive care unit, an expanded birthing unit and maternity inpatient beds.
Together, the three projects are expected to support 3,700 construction jobs.
The Austin Hospital project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and Built, in partnership with Austin Health and Mercy Health, with construction scheduled for completion in 2028.
Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, said the expansion would increase capacity and improve emergency care for the growing region.
“The expansion of the Austin Hospital emergency department will provide more treatment spaces and improve care for patients and families in Melbourne’s north-east,” Allan said.
Victorian Minister for Health Infrastructure, Melissa Horne, said the project would significantly increase the hospital’s ability to meet demand.
“The new three-storey emergency department expansion will provide families in the growing north-east with better care, closer to home, with capacity to treat 30,000 more patients each year once complete,” Horne said.
Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, said the upgrade was critical for one of the state’s busiest emergency departments.
“The Austin emergency department saw more than 88,000 presentations in 2024-25 alone, which is why this expansion is so important to support patients and frontline workers into the future,” Thomas said.
