Page 729 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 17 March 2015
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undertake training and have practical experience in UCPH. But of course we will also see very effective support for that ageing population. For example, we will see a dedicated aged-care assessment team in place at UCPH; we will see a residential aged-care specialist to help those older Canberrans needing to navigate their way into the residential aged-care sector; and we will see new sensory areas for dementia care patients. These are all very important responses to a growing and ageing population, at the same time freeing up capacity at our tertiary treatment centre sites. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Fitzharris.
MS FITZHARRIS: Minister, what other important health projects are being delivered through the health infrastructure program?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Fitzharris for the supplementary. This is, as I mentioned earlier, just one part of the broader health infrastructure program being delivered by this Labor government—a program that is delivering jobs in terms of additional nursing, medical and other health staff capability, delivering better health services for our community in terms of better, more modern infrastructure, and of course driving jobs in the construction and development sector during the development phase.
We have seen, as Ms Fitzharris would know very well, the very well received Gungahlin Community Health Centre, a great new facility for the Gungahlin district. With respect to similar upgrades, there is the $19 million upgrade at Tuggeranong for the Tuggeranong Community Health Centre and the $51 million new build of the Belconnen Community Health Centre. This Labor government is reaching out to all districts across the ACT and investing in better health facilities for our community.
Of course, we have the new intensive care, coronary care, high dependency unit at the Canberra Hospital. We have the new $111 million Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. We are investing in the new adult mental health unit. We are investing in new cancer treatment at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre. One of the first places I went to as the new health minister was to meet the staff and patients at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre. There was an overwhelmingly positive response from the staff and from the people using that facility. They welcomed this major investment.
Equally, the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children is a fantastic new facility. It was great to talk to the staff there and to meet the mums, dads and kids there in that facility. They welcomed this government’s investment in this infrastructure. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what positive impacts will the completed University of Canberra public hospital have on the ACT government’s broader mental health strategy?
MR CORBELL: I thank Dr Bourke for his supplementary. UCPH will deliver some specific mental health care settings as part of its overall role. Obviously, we have invested in the new secure mental health unit. That project is now underway—
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