Contributing to a decade of transformation in healthcare

Over the past decade, healthcare and healthcare design in Australia has undergone a remarkable transformation. This presentation reflects on the design and delivery of ten hospitals in BVN’s portfolio over this period, highlighting the interplay between practical experience, authentic engagement and the balance and evolution of the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines (AusHFGs). By examining projects, we will explore how lessons learned have informed not only individual outcomes but also the broader framework guiding healthcare infrastructure development.

Each hospital tells a unique story, shaped by its location, community needs and clinical ambitions. While the AusHFGs provide a robust foundation for consistent, high-quality healthcare environments, their application often requires careful localisation to meet the distinct requirements of diverse briefs. These adaptations range from considerations of cultural context and patient demographics to the specific demands of regional and urban settings.

Key themes of the presentation will include: 

• authentic engagement: collaborative approaches to co-design with clinicians, patients and communities, ensuring responsive and inclusive outcomes; 
• innovation in delivery and procurement: strategies for balancing speed and quality in project execution, from early planning to handover; 
• resilience and adaptability: how design solutions anticipate future needs, from technological advancements and spatial expansion to sustainability goals. 

Some of the projects shared will include: 

• Northern Beaches, through the lens of holistic integration of services and a public/private model on a greenfield site; 
• Nepean, through the lens of mental health by design and reimagining of a vertical hospital campus; 
• St Vincent’s, through the lens of connecting to research, rehabilitation and recovery within the confines of an inner city campus; 
• Canberra Hospital, through the lens of sustainability and future-proofing for expansion. 

This retrospective examines how iterative improvements in design and process, informed by real-world challenges, have strengthened the profession’s ability to deliver innovative, patient-centred facilities. Attendees will gain insights into how these frameworks and practices can continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of healthcare systems around the world.

Learning Objectives

• Analysis of the adaptation of the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines (AusHFGs) in diverse project contexts 
• Application of lessons in sustainability and future-proofing in hospital design
• Examination of collaborative co-design practices in healthcare infrastructure