Construction of a new $122.7m mental health unit is expected to be finished before the end of the year and recruitment has started for staff.
The scaffolding has come down on a $122.7 million project to support people with severe and complex mental health disorders on the Gold Coast.
This means completion of the 40-bed Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (SMHRU), located at the Gold Coast University Hospital, is now just a matter of months away.
Recruitment is in full swing with the clinical leadership team now on board. The two wards have been officially named “Banksia” (B1) and “Sandalwood” (LG), in keeping with Gold Coast Health’s Australian flora theme for mental health wards.
The facility is linked to university hospital by a semi-enclosed walkway attached to the existing mental health building, ensuring the efficient flow of staff, visitors and food delivery between the new unit and the main hospital.
Gold Coast-based housing, local government and planning and public works minister Meaghan Scanlon visited the site for a progress update this week and also to announce that the hospital would undergo a $1.7 million facelift to improve patient flow and safety.
The project will see the emergency department triage and ambulance offload areas upgraded with eight new stretcher bays, reconfigured triage for patient transfers, a dedicated space for acute mental health presentations, and additional waiting areas.
Queensland Ambulance Services will be relocated to an external building, with the internal space repurposed to meet growing community demand.
In the past financial year, more than 190,000 patients presented to Gold Coast Health emergency departments, a rise of more than 2%. The number of ambulance arrivals also increased, rising by 5.3% to more than 64,300 arrivals.
Gold Coast Health’s Mental Health and Specialist Services clinical director Dr Sandeep Chand said the unit had been purpose-built to address a critical gap in mental health care for those living with severe and complex conditions like schizophrenia.
“Our vision is to create a safe, therapeutic space where patients can recover with dignity and compassion,” he said.
“We have designed the SMHRU to be a healing environment that integrates natural light, secure outdoor areas and a home-like atmosphere.
“This approach is essential for patients who may need extended stays, allowing them to feel supported as they work towards recovery.”
He said they had worked closely with individuals with lived experience to develop the space and the model of care to ensure the SMHRU provides a therapeutic environment that feels like home.
“Here, patients can build resilience, develop life skills, and prepare to reintegrate into their daily lives,” said Dr Chand.
“The focus on natural light and secure outdoor spaces is central to creating a healing environment that supports long-term recovery.”
Ms Scanlon said the new mental health unit would ensure those with severe and complex mental health issues had access to world-class, compassionate care.
“It will provide a secure, therapeutic environment where individuals with severe and complex mental health disorders can receive the specialised care they need, close to home,” she said.