The University of Wollongong has taken the first step towards approval for its $500 million health and well-being precinct at its Innovation Campus, asking planning authorities to start a major project process.
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UOW this week sought approval from the state planning department to move forward with designing the first phase of the precinct which will include a $47 million primary health, education and research facility.
The facility is set to create around 300 jobs during construction, and will eventually employ about 100 full-time university staff and health professionals. It will also provide hundreds of students with an ideal training ground.
However Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Health and Communities) Professor Alison Jones said the benefits of the world-class precinct would flow far beyond the boundaries of the campus.
A first-of-its-kind in Australia, it will see the health centre co-located with a retirement village, a residential aged care facility, a childcare centre and a communal park or "green heart".
"There'll be a co-location of intergenerational activities within the precinct - from golden oldies living independently and in aged care facilities, through to students and children," Prof Jones said.
"We will be able to develop and deliver new models of patient-centred care at the primary health clinic, while conducting research and training the next generation of health-related students.
"It's also about improving the health and well-being of the Illawarra community in general. We know we have an ageing population and we want to redefine what ageing looks like so people can remain healthy and happy for as long as possible."
In March last year, UOW entered into a partnership with Lendlease to design and deliver the first phase of the 7.5ha precinct at the southern end of the Fairy Meadow campus. The design will be in keeping with the surrounds, Prof Jones said.
"It's not going to be a concrete and glass jungle," she said. "Next door to the health facility will be a green outdoor space where people can exercise, socialise, take part in games and activities."
As it is classed as a state significant development due to the cost and scale, UOW now requires the secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to lay out the environmental parameters of the project.
Pending requisite state government and council approvals, phase one could be built within 18 months and operational by 2024.
The health facility would be three to four storeys high and as well as teaching and research facilities it would include a range of allied and aged care health services.
There would also be a range of support services including pathology, medical and diagnostic imaging and pharmacy.
"The centre will not only be focused on the care and treatment of established disease but also preventative disease," Prof Jones said.
"There will be person-centred teams of health professionals so people don't have to go to three or four clinics for their chronic condition - they can just go to one place.
"The centre is for those on campus, and those from the community. People can just turn up with their Medicare card and their needs will be met, regardless of their ability to pay."
Prof Jones said the facility was not designed to compete with existing primary health providers in the region, but to complement them.
"It will offer different models of care; it will be a place where more complex patients can be referred, and more complex services can be offered. We will work in partnership with existing primary care providers and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District."
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