Project Management team and architects announced for the Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Project Management team and architects announced for the Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit

 Member for Albury, Justin Clancy MP, has welcomed the appointment of the Project Management team and architects for the Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit which will replace Nolan House at Albury Hospital.

 “We all want to see a facility built which will be a real place for healing and health,” said Mr Clancy. “Today’s announcement is an important step along that road.

 “The community is putting its faith in the project team and architects to deliver the state-of-the art service that is required here,” said Mr Clancy. “The NSW Government has funded this project which is so important to our community, and people here can’t wait to see the preliminary drawings and the building take shape.”

 Executive Director of Mental Health at Albury Wodonga Health (AHA), Lucie Shanahan said the new dedicated facility is part of the NSW Government’s $700 million State-wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program – the single biggest investment in mental health infrastructure to date.

“The new 32-bed unit will replace the current mental health inpatient service at Nolan House to deliver an expanded facility which will improve access to mental health care for our cross-border communities,” Ms Shanahan said.

 “It will provide an innovative, modern, safe space to better support the journey to recovery for our most vulnerable mental health patients and offer contemporary models of mental health care and support for the Albury-Wodonga community, now and into the future.

 “We’ve reached a significant milestone for the project, with Bamford Architects and Mace Group appointed as the architects and project managers, which will progress planning and design of the new facility.

“Good design can lead to better mental health, physical health and wellbeing and we look forward to working together with the community to create this state-of-the-art mental health unit for patients and their families.

 Bamford Architects is an award-winning architectural firm with extensive experience producing design solutions for the mental health sector, having worked on similar projects for Ballarat Health Services and Peninsula Health.

“We are passionate about architecture for mental health infrastructure, and excited to work on this important project,” said Barbara Bamford, Bamford Architects Director.

 “We will be working in partnership with consumers, carers and AWH clinical staff when planning the project to co-design and develop detailed plans to best meet the needs of the community.

 “We aim to deliver high quality, contemporary buildings that both patients and staff will love and which will aid in recovery.”

 Project Managers, Mace Group will be responsible for overseeing the design and planning for the project, including preparing a detailed Business Case.

 Mace Group Operations Director, Joe Clarke said the team has delivered over 100 business cases for Victorian and NSW Government clients, and have extensive health sector experience, including the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Redevelopment.

Construction timing for the new Nolan House will be confirmed after further planning is undertaken.

 Further information on the AIMHU development can be found on the following page: www.awh.org.au/about-us/our-future/acute-inpatient-mental-health-unit