Attracting, recruiting and retaining health workers in the reginal communities of Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW and Far West NSW will soon be easier, with new modern and sustainable worker accommodation announced for Balranald, Broken Hill, Cooma, Finley, Leeton, Narrandera and West Wyalong.
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accommodation for key healthcare workers will ensure new and visiting healthcare workers have fit for purpose, self-contained accommodation, providing a safe and comfortable place for them to live close to work.
Consultation with clinicians who have experience living in key worker accommodation is helping to inform the planning and design process.
The accommodation units will be fully furnished and equipped with all the necessities including kitchens, bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, living and outdoor areas.
The new units will be manufactured offsite, with construction to start in early 2024 after planning and design work has been completed.
The units are expected to be installed across the regions from mid-2024 and become available to key workers in late 2024/early 2025.
The investment into the key worker accommodation is in addition to hospital redevelopments in these regions including an upgrade to the Broken Hill Hospital’s Emergency Department, Wentworth Health Service Redevelopment, and redevelopments at Cooma, Finley and Temora hospitals.
Hutchinson Builders has been appointed to deliver the accommodation program across six sites including Broken Hill, Cooma, Leeton, Finley, Narrandera and West Wyalong. Balranald early enabling works is underway with Joss Construction.