A-Z Index | Contact the Department | Search Advanced Search

Home > Ministers > The Hon Nicola Roxon MP - Minister for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > Major New Health Investments for Rockhampton and Region

View by date:

• April
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

• 2013
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004

Previous Ministers

PDF printable version of Major New Health Investments for Rockhampton and Region (PDF 19 KB)

Joint Release

The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing

Kirsten Livermore MP
Member for Capricornia

5 May 2011

Patients from Rockhampton and surrounding regions will continue to see the benefits from national health reform with a number of new multi-million dollar health infrastructure projects announced today by the Gillard Government through the 2011-12 Budget.

The projects include new operating theatres and patient accommodation at Rockhampton Mater Misericordiae Hospital and important new mental health services and accommodation for across the region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said these projects will greatly improve access to quality health care, while also stimulating the local Rockhampton economy and creating jobs.

“Finding room in this very responsible Budget for expanded health services has been difficult, but shows what a high priority it is for the Gillard Government,’’ Mr Swan said.

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon was joined by local member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore to make the announcement at Mater Misericordiae.

“The Gillard Government wants to make it easier for Australians to see and contact a doctor closer to home,” Minister Roxon said.

“The $6.6 million provided by the Gillard Government to the Mater will enable construction and fit out of two new operating theatres here in Rockhampton,” Ms Roxon said. “A third operating theatre will be built as a shell so it can be fitted out in future as the need arises.”

“Twelve patient and family accommodation units will also be built, helping families out who have to travel to Rockhampton for treatment.”
Ms Livermore praised the new investments and, in particular, the $75 million of new mental health infrastructure also announced today across regional Queensland.

“As part of this $75 million mental health investment, a 20-bed community care unit will be built here in Rockhampton for mental health patients. This is great news as these units can help to reduce isolation and stress for patients who have to travel a long way from home to get the help they need,” Ms Livermore said.

The funding for construction of this new 20 bed unit resulted from a successful bid by the Bligh Government to deliver more mental health services sooner to this important region.

Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson welcomed the funding to establish the new Community Care Unit which will deliver more support for Rockhampton locals living with mental illness.

“Together with the improvements to the Mater, these new mental health investments further show how national health reform is paying off for our region,” Minister Roxon said.

Minister Roxon said the projects had been selected for funding from the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) regional priority round. She said the applications were assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board and found to satisfy the funding requirements.

“These new projects and many other projects around Australia being funded from the Fund’s Regional Priority Round will help strengthen regional health and hospital services and build a better system for the future,” she said.

“Theses projects are part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to health and hospital infrastructure as part of its national health reform agenda and adds to the Government’s past investment in this region, including our $78 million commitment for Rockhampton Hospital.’’


For more information contact Ms Roxon’s office 02 6277 7220

Summary of $6.6 million investment into Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Queensland

• Construction and fit out of two new operating theatres at Mater Rockhampton.
• A third operating theatre will be built as a shell so it can be fitted out in future as the need arises.
• Twelve patient and family accommodation units will also be built at Mater Rockhampton, helping families out who have to travel to Rockhampton for treatment.
• Twelve patient and family accommodation units will also be built at Mater Bundaberg, helping families out who have to travel to Bundaberg for treatment.

For further details of the state-wide mental health investments, please refer to the relevant media release at www.health.gov.au.