RP Infrastructure

The NSW Government is implementing the state’s largest mental health infrastructure reform program, which will deliver more and better co-designed facilities for people with mental health needs, their families, carers and staff. The $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program (SWMHIP) is designed to transform existing infrastructure and support new contemporary health care models.

Project Overview

The Tamworth Mental Health Unit, part of SWMHIP, will replace the existing Banksia Mental Health Unit and offer expanded services for adults and young people. It will also provide additional beds for older people to increase service capability and introduce a new Adolescent model of care.

The new facility will be built near the main hospital building, in close proximity to the emergency department, and be physically connected to the existing hospital. By integrating mental health with other acute services, it will provide better mental health, physical health and wellbeing outcomes for mental health consumers.

Through a co-design process, the project delivery will include: a dedicated family room and courtyard for visitors; a respite level for staff; and increased access to natural light, landscape and views to deliver enhanced therapeutic environments to improve patient outcomes.

Our Role

RP Infrastructure (RPI) is commissioned to provide comprehensive project management and facility planning services to manage all stages of the works from design, project brief, authority approval, consultants, nominated contractor and commissioning activities. This includes extensive consultation with local hospital stakeholders such as staff, consumers and co-designers, and local community stakeholders through a Connecting with Country initiative in partnership with our client Health Infrastructure.

Key Challenge

The site provides significant challenges to deliver a focused mental health service and requires the relocation of existing accommodation services and a number of displaced carparks, solutions to resolve topographical constraints whilst maintaining the operational needs of clinical services operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Extensive consultation with stakeholders ensures the final design responds sensitively whilst addressing operational and site complexity.