The Allan Labor Government is continuing to support Victoria’s healthcare workforce, providing a funding boost to Goulburn Valley Health to deliver modern staff accommodation in Shepparton.
Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas today visited the health service to announce a $10.2 million grant has been awarded via the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) to help build a new three-storey apartment block to accommodate visiting medical staff and new employees.
Health services across the world have experienced workforce challenges since the global pandemic, to address this Victoria has recruited more than 3,100 international healthcare workers since April 2022 with 25 per cent working in regional areas.
The new apartment block will help Goulburn Valley Health attract healthcare workers to the region, as well as supporting existing staff.
Once completed, the accommodation will be in a garden setting with 18 new apartments with fifteen single rooms, and three double units – providing a modern, contemporary place to live.
This funding builds on the Labor Government’s investment in health facilities in Shepparton with the $229 million redevelopment of Shepparton Hospital complete last year. This is in addition to more than $24.4 million in funding awarded to Goulburn Valley Health through RHIF.
Across Victoria, the latest round of RHIF grants is supporting rural and regional hospitals, community health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure they can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities.
With 45 projects across 39 rural and regional health services, the program is ensuring communities continue to have access to high-quality care, no matter where they live – with the delivery of these projects also supporting hundreds of jobs across the state.
Established by the Labor Government in 2016 and overseen by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the RHIF program is now worth $790 million with more than 675 projects funded for regional health services – the largest investment ever dedicated grants program in Victoria’s history.
For more information vhba.vic.gov.au/health/regional-facilities/regional-health-infrastructure-fund.
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas
“We are supporting the hardworking staff at Goulburn Valley Health through RHIF, ensuring they have modern and comfortable accommodation after delivering care to Victorians in need.”
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“The new state-of-the-art accommodation will help attract more health professionals, making it easier and even more appealing to make the move to Shepparton.”
