Health Infrastructure
HCCA plays an important role in shaping health infrastructure projects across the ACT by facilitating consumer input and advocating for the needs of consumers in planning and designing health care facilities.
In 2023, the ACT government established the Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group (HICRG), which is co-chaired by HCCA. This group is made up of community members who have experience using ACT health infrastructure. It was created to provide expert consumer advice on health infrastructure projects across the ACT. The HICRG focuses on making sure these facilities focus on accessibility, safety and inclusion, ensuring that health facilities meet the diverse needs of the community.
Our work in health infrastructure goes back to 2008 and has led to improvements such as the inclusion of carer zones, dimmable lighting and accessible amenities in patient rooms.
From 2019 – 2024 HCCA provided consumer input into the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project, which resulted in a new main reception and critical services building, forming the new hub of the Canberra Hospital campus.
Our next major work in infrastructure will be the new Northside Hospital Project, which will replace the existing North Canberra Hospital. The new Northside Hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to reflect patient and family-centred care. It will feature new hospital amenities and inpatient services, a new Emergency Department with improved access and spaces for medical practice, teaching, training and research. The project aims to enhance on campus parking and public transport connections to help ease traffic. The project is currently in the plan and design phase. We will be working with Infrastructure Canberra to help guide them on creating a space that meets community needs.
HCCA remains committed to advocating for spaces that are consumer focused. While there is still plenty of work to be done in the space, we look forward to continuing our partnership with the ACT Government to advocate for spaces that fit consumer needs.
Other recent projects HCCA has provided input into:
- CHS Community Health Centre Upgrades
- CHS Acute Palliative Care Unit
- CHS Pathology Expansion
- CHS Obstetrics Expansion
- The Canberra Hospital campus – wayfinding improvements
- The Canberra Hospital campus – western loop bus entrance and bus stop improvements across campus
Gender Diversity
Dementia-friendly Design
- Designing dementia-friendly care environments | Dementia Australia
- WA Dementia friendly design guide
Understanding Health Infrastructure
- AusHFG Standard Components
- Canberra Hospital Master Plan 2021 – 2041
- Glossary of terms for Health Infrastructure (2024).docx
- John Cary TED talk
- The Infrastructure Investment Lifecycle
- The 7 Principles – Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
- Universal design guidance
- Working with HCCA- Partnering Expectations
Are you interested in health infrastructure and the way it supports people to access health care?
The Territory Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group (HICRG) is seeking new members with diverse lived experiences to provide consumer input and advice to health infrastructure projects planned or currently underway in the ACT.
Since its establishment in November 2023, the HICRG brings together consumers, ACT Government staff and the Health Care Consumers’ Association (HCCA) to provide valuable input into the planning, design and evaluation of health facilities. The HICRG has played an important role in advising on topics such as patient and visitor needs, accessibility, all-gender amenities, wayfinding and more. Members have contributed to major projects including the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project, First Impressions project and community health facilities.
As a consumer representative, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Advise project teams on how infrastructure can better meet the needs of patients, carers and visitors.
- Contribute to discussions on accessibility, wayfinding, all-gender amenities and more.
- Participate in 4–6 online meetings per year.
For more information, please download the HICRG Information Sheet.
The nomination and endorsement process
Interested people can nominate for this opportunity by completing the nomination form. If you need support to complete your nomination, please contact HCCA on 6230 7800.
Nominees may then be invited to interview to complete the selection process. You can expect to hear about the outcome of your nomination in early July 2025. Following the successful completion of the nomination and interview, applicants will also need to complete consumer representative training (if they haven’t already) and receive an induction to the work of the committee before the first meeting. Training is free and will be arranged if necessary.
It is expected that the first meeting for new members will be in August 2025. Consumer members of the ACT Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group will be reimbursed.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact HCCA on [email protected] or 6230 7800.
Closing Date: 27 June