The Albanese Labor Government's new $300 million Flinders HealthCARE Centre will be a transformative investment for South Adelaide's healthcare workforce and patients alike,the Health Services Union declared today.
The state-of-art facility will be jointly funded by the Federal Government and Flinders University and represents a profound commitment to addressing critical workforce shortages across the allied health professions that form the backbone of our healthcare system.
"This is a game changer,” said HSU SA Secretary Billy Elrick. “This new healthcare hub will create a pipeline of the critically important health professionals who are in desperate shortage across our health system. By expanding training capacity and providing state-of-the-art clinical facilities, this investment directly addresses the workforce crisis our members have been highlighting for years."
Among the hundreds of health professionals to be trained each year will be 250 social workers, 128 occupational therapists and speech pathologists, 60 physiotherapists, 24 clinical psychologists, and nearly 200 other allied health workers.
The HSU commends the focus on allied health professionals, who often provide critical interventions that keep patients out of hospitals and support their recovery and rehabilitation in the community.
"Our members are essential to a functioning healthcare system, yet they've too often been overlooked in healthcare planning and investment. This announcement recognises their vital contribution and the incredible return taxpayers get from these hardworking, highly skilled professionals.
The new 10-storey facility will also deliver 10,000 additional health appointments annually for South Adelaide residents, significantly improving access to care in the region.
"The Flinders HealthCARE Centre represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment our healthcare system needs - one that combines service delivery with workforce development. This dual approach is what the HSU has long advocated for, and we're pleased to see it being implemented at such a significant scale.”
The HSU looks forward to working closely with the Federal Government, the Malinauskas Government, and Flinders University as planning for the facility progresses to ensure it maximises benefits for both healthcare workers and the communities they serve.
Media contact: Billy Elrick, HSU SA Secretary, 0427 267 996 or Nick Lucchinelli 0422 229 032