I recently spoke to you about Macquarie’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional healthcare, promoting innovation and collaborating with partners for the benefit of our students, staff, patients and wider community.

As we work to build Australia’s first university-led, fully integrated academic health enterprise, it has been a busy time for building works at the University. I would like to provide you with an update on some of these developments at Wallumattagal Campus and how they are preparing us to continue our work in healthcare excellence.

One of these key projects is the development of the new dedicated orthopaedic centre on Level 5 of the hospital, a facility that will play an instrumental role in delivering top-tier healthcare services to our community. I am now happy to report that the project is progressing well and according to plan.

The centrepiece of this project is the inclusion of four cutting-edge, glass-walled operating theatres. These state-of-the-art facilities are designed not only for precision surgeries but also with the highest focus on infection prevention and control. Alongside these advanced operating theatres, we are establishing two dedicated recovery units and a total of 29 in-patient beds, which will cater to the needs of our patients, offering them a comfortable and supportive environment during their recovery process.

In addition to the Level 5 works, we are currently in the process of rebuilding the Hospital’s Central Sterile Supply Department. This revamped department will play a pivotal role in supporting the operations of the orthopaedic facility and its innovative Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) model of care.

As things stand, we are well on track to welcome our very first patients to the orthopaedic centre in January 2024. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare at our University.

Our commitment to developing a collective healthcare network on campus also extends to our partners, and I’m excited to share news about the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. Work has officially commenced on the refurbishment and upgrade of the former Siemens Building located on our campus at 2 Innovation Road. This refurbished space is poised to become the new home for the Woolcock’s sleep and respiratory clinics, research labs, offices and administrative teams. We look forward to welcoming our colleagues from the Woolcock to our Wallumattagal Campus in the first quarter of 2024, where they will undoubtedly excel in their groundbreaking research and services.

Finally, vision and hearing not-for-profit NextSense, one of our key partners in the Australian Hearing Hub, is nearing completion on its purpose-built centre for innovation. This impressive facility is located near the University Sport and Aquatic Centre on Culloden Road. The centre is set to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals of all ages dealing with hearing and vision loss. It will feature custom therapy spaces and, notably, a school and preschool, both set to open their doors next year.

This is an exciting time for both our University and like-minded partner organisations as building works continue at Wallumattagal Campus and we move closer to further integrating health education, healthcare and health research at the core of what we do.