Construction has started on a unique and ambitious project, designed to support health care patients and their families.
Shovels hit the ground Thursday for stage one of Wishlist Centre at Birtinya, backed by charity Wishlist.
The centre, at 1 Bright Place opposite Sunshine Coast University Hospital, will provide affordable transitionary accommodation and distinctive services to help patients and families during their health journey.
Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said the $14 million project would “up the ante” for supportive environments dedicated to patients who need ongoing treatment at SCUH.
“The sod-turn is a major milestone for a project that we have been working on for the past five years,” Ms Rowe said.
“Wishlist Centre will be a warm, supportive and stimulating environment with each of the four levels delivering a different service or activity to provide physical, spiritual, emotional and psychological support for patients and their families.
“The pandemic has only highlighted the need for Wishlist Centre, with mental health and wellbeing remaining crucial topics of concern in public healthcare.
Through collaboration and engagement, we identified the need for more low-cost accommodation to complement our existing Reed House and Wishlist House and while doing so learned that services to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our community were also required,” she said.
Wishlist has collaborated with not-for-profits, non-government organisations and education partners on unique initiatives that will support patients and their families within Wishlist Centre. These services include cancer and mental health support programmes, student placement options, vocational pathways and social enterprise.
The nation’s largest privately-owned building company Hutchinson Builders, has been awarded the design and construction contract for the four-level facility opposite the SCUH.
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The project is expected to employ up to 170 contractors on-site, and indirectly create about 60 full-time roles.
Chairman of Hutchinsons Builders, Scott Hutchinson, said the local company was proud to work with Wishlist, to help bring this purpose-designed centre to life.
“Wishlist Centre will play a pivotal role in supporting the region’s communities in times of need,” Mr Hutchinson said.
Wishlist Centre will offer 18 spacious and light-filled accommodation, with single, family, and interconnecting rooms and a podium level with communal spaces for guests to use, including kitchen and laundry facilities, along with break-out spaces for community activities and therapy services to support the patients and their families.
The facility is supported by a $12 million Federal Government grant through the Australian Government’s Department of Health, Community Health and Hospital Program.
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Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said Wishlist Centre would support the community in Kawana and afield.
“Wishlist Centre forms the missing piece in the puzzle in delivering a truly world-class health hub in our community and fills an urgent gap in health provision on the Sunshine Coast by providing low-cost accommodation for patients of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and in particular their families.” Mr Wallace said.
“As part of the 2019 Federal Budget, I secured a commitment of $12 million from the Morrison Government, which is now allowing construction to get underway, and it is fantastic to see the Government’s investment and Wishlist’s hard work coming to fruition,” he said.
Stage 1 of Wishlist Centre is expected to open mid-2022, with Wishlist fundraising for an additional $2 million to ensure that once open, the facility is all it must be for patients and their families.
For more information on how you can support Wishlist’s $2 million by 2022 fundraising appeal, visit www.wishlistcentre.org.au
