Work is underway on the $82 million La Trobe University Health Clinic – set to become Victoria’s largest interdisciplinary university clinic – following Plenary’s successful financial close.
The La Trobe University Health Clinic upholds the university’s $170 million investment in health innovation by providing a space that will play host to research and infrastructure to bolster Australia’s allied healthcare workforce by an extra 4000 professionals each year.
Allied health stands as Australia’s second-largest clinical workforce, encompassing physiotherapy, psychology, pharmacy, occupational therapy and social work.
The health clinic marks the inaugural development under the La Trobe University City master development partnership with Plenary that aims to transform the 235-hectare Bundoora campus into a lively hub complete with sports, research and innovation, education, commercial, retail and residential developments.
Set for completion in mid-2026, the health clinic will train an additional 400 allied health professionals and psychologists annually, who will receive access to clinical placements and the hands-on experience vital to building confidence and resilience within the workforce.
The La Trobe healthcare facility will offer diverse allied health services to the public, including orthoptics, speech pathology, podiatry, psychology, dietetics and nutrition, physiotherapy, audiology and occupational therapy.
Tackling Australia’s health workforce crisis one facility at a time
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell, says the facility intends to remedy the harmful implications of the regional and metropolitan health workforce crisis.
“La Trobe is making a significant investment in health teaching, research and infrastructure across key areas of need in both metropolitan and regional areas to help address Australia’s serious health workforce crisis,” he says.
Farrell says the clinic will enrich the local community and provide employment opportunities. The university envisages the clinic acting as a pillar of guidance for other healthcare hub developments, alongside repairing a national policy issue affecting governments and policymakers.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health Innovation and Dean of the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Professor Russ Hoye, says the clinic will witness a student’s educational trajectory from placement to qualification.
“Our facilities will give health students the very best environment to learn and succeed,” he says.
Rewards of a skilled allied health workforce
Although Australia has 300,000 registered allied health professionals, the Department of Health and Aged Care predicts a steep decline in certain specialities over the next decade.
Hoye says the rewards of creating a skilled allied health workforce in Bundoora will reverberate around the country. “Our facilities will lead to more and better healthcare professionals for communities across Australia,” he says.
Plenary Group managing director Damien Augustinus says Plenary is honoured to be involved in developing a centre conducive to innovation and collaboration.
Augustinus attributes the group’s experience building lasting relationships within the health and life sciences space as essential in delivering the university’s goal.
“We are ideally placed to deliver on La Trobe’s vision for the clinic to improve the healthcare sector and foster an environment in which healthcare professions can develop and flourish,” he says.
Photography supplied.
How design can elevate community infrastructure.
