The sod has officially been turned on KDHS’s next venture. It was a group effort, with (back) Moretto Building project manager Dan Hargreaves, KDHS employees Josephine Maggs and Trish Keillor, Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Dale Denham with (front) KDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy and board chair Chris Motton.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
The sod has been turned on a landmark project for the Kyabram District Health Service as it continues its struggle with regional healthcare worker retention.
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Designs for a $2.16 million education and training centre, which is now under construction, were presented to a select gathering of KDHS executives, staff members and special guests on Thursday, December 11.
The announcement of the new federally funded building was made only the week prior, with KDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy saying it would be used to “boost the capacity” of clinical education for future students, current staff and other medical professionals.
At the meeting, Ms McEvoy said the construction had been a “long time coming” since 2019 when Commonwealth funding was first approved, but the team was pleased with the momentum.
She said the building would complement KDHS’s ever-growing education team, whose members have outgrown the area they currently work in.
Attendees get a sneak peek at what the building will look like through layout plans explained by KDHS capital project manager David Atley.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
The education and training centre would also establish Kyabram as a learning destination, supporting KDHS’s worker retention strategy which launched with promotional videos to attract tourism and employment to the region.
“(The education) team has grown significantly over the last six years, which I think shows our commitment to education broadly in the organisation — so that's fabulous,” Ms McEvoy said.
“It is about recruiting staff, but it's also about retaining staff as well.”
Plans reveal the building will be constructed in front of the oncology unit, replacing the current eastern car parks and facing Fenaughty St.
The building will feature a 60-seat main training room, a 10-seat space for smaller groups and comprehensive training equipment throughout.
Education co-ordinator Trish Keillor said the building would be a great opportunity for learning capacity at the service.
“It’s a great area for our allied health clinicians, doctors and students to come together and work in a simulated environment that’s realistic and comparative to what we see in real life,” she said.
“It will give that much more confidence and strength and skills to our team.”
The training centre is scheduled for completion in October 2026, with plans to officially launch the building during KDHS's annual meeting in November.
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