Torquay Community Hospital

The Victorian Government is investing $675 million to build ten community hospitals in major growth areas like Torquay.

These community hospitals will add real value to the way healthcare is delivered in suburban and regional Victoria, providing more access to in-demand services, closer to home.

The range of services offered at each hospital will be tailored for each community, with a strong focus on ensuring better integration of health and human services under one roof.

Torquay Community Hospital will be managed by Barwon Health.

CCC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS OPEN12 MAR 2019
CCC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS CLOSE23 APR 2019
CCC APPOINTEDJUL 2019
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS2022
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE2024

Benefits
The community hospitals program will deliver the following benefits:
- enable care to be provided locally, ensuring every family can get the care they need
- assist in preventing poor health and wellbeing outcomes in communities with vulnerable or at-risk members
- reduce unnecessary attendance and wait times at larger hospitals.
By co-ordinating investment with local organisations, the community hospitals program provides an opportunity to create thriving health precincts that will support the health and wellbeing of the local community, and bring greater vitality to growing areas.
Proposed services
What is a community hospital?
Community hospitals are a new type of facility being developed by the Victorian government to provide accessible health services in growing communities. They aim to provide a broad range of ambulatory hospital, community health and social care services within the one place, making it easier for families, patients, carers and clients to receive the services they need closer to their homes.
Community hospitals don’t provide emergency department care such as ongoing management of complex conditions including severe stomach pain, chest pain, trouble breathing or moderate trauma. These patients will continue to access their nearest hospital’s emergency department. Patients with these conditions who present at a community hospital will be stabilised and transferred to the most appropriate emergency department.

Planned services at Torquay
The current Torquay Community Health Service is located on Surf Coast Highway close to the centre of town. The Department of Health and Human Services will work with relevant Barwon Health and other potential partners to identify a new site for this expansion.
The Torquay Community Hospital will provide a greater range of public urgent care services, so families will no longer have to travel into Geelong for:
- general medical and specialist services
- allied health appointments
- women’s health, including sexual health and family planning
- pharmacy services
- social support services, such as housing assistance and financial aid
- diagnostics, including pathology and imaging services
- chronic disease management
- community mental health assessment
- alcohol and drug services
- complex renal dialysis
- day chemotherapy
- rehabilitation support
- family safety and crisis support services.
Community consultative committee
A community consultative committee has been established for the Torquay Community Hospital to provide a forum for members of the local community to participate in its planning and development
The consultative committee includes:
- foundation members from key organisations such as local councils, health service providers and Aboriginal representation
- community members selected by an independent expression of interest process and a limited number of invited community members.
The committee selection approach considered a mix of age, gender and other demographic characteristics as well as a cross-section of interests and community perspectives to ensure diverse representation.
The committee is chaired by: Darren Cheeseman MP, Member for South Barwon.
Committee members include:
- Matthew Constable – Barwon Health
- Lucy Cuddihy – Barwon Health
- Chris Pike – Surf Coast Shire
- Lisa Briggs – Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative Limited
- Phillip Smith – community member
- Kay Talbot – community member
- James Armitage – community member
- Jo Craig – community member
- Shura Ford – community member
- Mike Atkinson – community member
- Celia Clarke – community member
- Samantha Haynes – community member
- Rebecca Talbot – community member
- Marc Cain – community member
- Tristan Johnson – community member
- Robert Skehan – community member.
View Terms of Reference | Download Word version (87 KB)
View Code of Conduct | Download Word version (77 KB)

Please direct project enquiries and feedback to communityhospitals@dhhs.vic.gov.au. To get in touch with the Torquay community consultative committee, please contact the committee Chair at Darren.Cheeseman@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Torquay Community Hospital