By NOEL MURPHY
A MASSIVE structure taking shape at Waurn Ponds stands stark and apart from its green open surrounds, nearby housing estate and university buildings a kick away to its south.
It’s almost emblematic, in a way, that the building has such a singular, stand-alone aspect. For in many ways it’s representative of a bold new world for old Geelong; a world of research and education, of medical and health research and advances – the type that will colour much of the region’s future.
Health is already a powerful part of the regional economy. In fact, it’s the largest individual job sector in the region, employing 12,500 people.
And it’s growing apace as Geelong looks to position itself as an important carer, teacher, researcher and developers of all things medical.
Epworth’s $277million, seven-storey investment on the windswept heights of Waurn Ponds is a key part of that and, while some time in coming, is set to open next year with an impressive range of facilities including: a 24/7 emergency department, medical, surgical, maternity and rehabilitation inpatient beds, a range of surgeries, medical consulting suites, rehabilitation facilities, a complex care unit, and a maternity ward.
Critically, Epworth Geelong will be a teaching hospital. It will host a clinical education and simulation precinct to, as it says, “enhance the clinical knowledge of nursing, medical and allied health staff and students”.
The purpose makes the hospital clearly one of the most important long-term players in Geelong’s economic aspirations. Not only will it be providing jobs – 250 workers are already building the place – and health care, it will pump out staff and research and the potential they offer the future.
For a city where the future is being mapped out along the streams of knowledge and research, defence, advanced manufacturing, tourism, information communications and technology, food and agriculture, Epworth’s arrival will be the vanguard of a renewed health focus.
That’s not a focus that might be understated. Geelong’s health quotient, in terms of research, care and teaching, has been growing from strength to strength for years – Barwon Health even rebranded its Geelong Hospital to University Hospital Geelong to underscore that changing health focus.
“Epworth Geelong will provide the very best in patient care – with purpose-built, state of the art facilities that integrate clinical practice, teaching and research,” says Epworth Health group chief Alan Kinkade.
