New designs have been unveiled for the $658 million Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre as main works get underway, delivering thousands of jobs and new and expanded health services.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard joined Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton at the Randwick site, where almost 1200 construction workers will be employed and a pipeline of 500 paediatrics roles will be delivered.
“This is an Australian first that will transform paediatric health care by bringing together world-leading researchers, educators and clinicians under one roof,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is about improving outcomes for unwell kids now and into the future. Projects like this are only possible because the NSW Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Government has a long-term economic plan which is delivering more hospitals and frontline staff.”
Mr Hazzard said the facility will offer a host of new and expanded services including an emergency department 3 times the size of the current facility, as well as a new medical short stay unit and a neurosciences centre.
“Around 2000 staff, patient families and community members have been consulted in the development of this new, state-of-the-art, paediatric hospital,” Mr Hazzard said.
“They have offered their lived experience about the hospital system, and how to make it a more family-friendly space for patients and a more user-friendly place for staff.
When completed, the Randwick project will include:
- a new and enhanced children’s intensive care unit, including a new close observation unit
- a new and larger children’s Emergency Department
- a new medical short stay unit
- a new neurosciences centre
- a new virtual care centre and hospital command centre
- inpatient units for medical, surgical and sleep studies
- the new Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre incorporating a day oncology centre and inpatient units, as well as a dedicated new bone marrow transplant unit
- co-located laboratories to support cancer research, education and training
- a new general pharmacy with advanced therapeutics and a sterile suite
- improved parent amenities, including new overnight beds for parents and bereavement rooms
- education and training spaces.
The interior has been designed with family-friendly spaces in mind, with comfortable sleeping options for parents and carers, as well as play and recreational areas, making use of natural light to promote healing.
Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton said the project is the next stage of the more than $1 billion Randwick Campus Redevelopment and follows the recent completion of the Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building, soon to open to the public.
“There had been no major upgrade to the Prince of Wales Hospital in 25 years until our government made it a reality, delivering jobs and better health services for the east and for children right across the state,” Ms Upton said.
“These facilities will have a positive impact on children and their families for generations to come, not just here in the eastern suburbs but nationwide.”
This significant investment in paediatric care is made possible by funding commitments from the NSW ($478 million) and Commonwealth Governments ($100 million), Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation ($25 million) and the Children’s Cancer Institute ($25 million). UNSW is providing a $30 million in-kind contribution for a component of the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre within the soon to be constructed adjacent UNSW Health Translation Hub.
In April 2022, Minderoo Foundation was announced as naming rights partner to the Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre, announcing a $15 million donation as part of the $50 million in planned philanthropic contributions to the project.
“Minderoo Foundation welcomes the start of major works on this world-leading collaboration,” said Professor Claire Wakefield, Director of the Foundation’s Collaborate Against Cancer initiative.
“We are proud to be helping to realise this extraordinary vision to save lives of children and young people with cancer.”
The project is expected to open in late 2025 and is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Children’s Cancer Institute and UNSW.
