John Holland appointed to deliver $658m new children's hospital in NSW

The $658 million Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre projects located within the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct in New South Wales will soon begin construction following the appointment of John Holland as builder. 

The new children’s hospital and research centre will not only transform the lives of patients and their families, but it will also transform the lives of the health staff and the workers who delivered the project as well. 

For this project, John Holland will be partnering with Health Infrastructure and the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. 

“Our team has a proven track record of collaborating to deliver health infrastructure in regional and capital cities across Australia. Our NSW team will continue to instill this focus on collaboration, trust and care to deliver a facility that will transform paediatric services in the heart of Sydney and serve the community well into the future. 

“Our commitment to targeting a carbon zero outcome during the construction phase is just one step toward the project’s vision to deliver a healthier and more sustainable future for our children,” John Holland CEO Joe Barr said. 

The new facilities will aim to provide life-changing health services and care for some of the State’s most unwell children. 

This project is part of the record $1.3 billion investment by the New South Wales Government in paediatric healthcare across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. The new building will include: 

• A new children’s emergency department and intensive care unit 
• Medical short stay unit 
• Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre 
• Neurosciences centre 
• Virtual care centre and hospital command centre 
• Inpatient units for medical, surgical, adolescent, sleep and oncology specialties 
• A day oncology centre 
• Wet and dry laboratories to support cancer research, education and training 
• Paediatric pharmacy 
• Improved parent amenities, including overnight bereavement rooms 
• Education and training spaces 

“This record investment by the NSW Government in paediatric health care is a game-changer for the children of NSW. 

“The statewide facility puts world-leading research at the forefront of health care, integrating scientists, clinicians and educators, to help our youngest and most vulnerable patients. A new paediatric Virtual Care Centre will also improve choices and access to 24/7 care for patients and families throughout NSW,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said. 

The project’s design incorporates feedback from staff, patients as well as patients and their families to help revolutionise patient care for children. The facility will now have more single-patient rooms, family friendly zones, play areas both inside and outside the hospital and even a pet-friendly zone. 

“Not only will this project improve outcomes and experiences for some of our littlest patients and their families, but it will also support almost 1,200 jobs during construction and help create 500 roles within paediatrics across the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct,” Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said. 

According to John Holland General Manager, Building, NSW/ACT Matthew Bourne, the company will focus on social sustainability initiatives and cross discipline partnerships during the delivery of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre. 

“Wellbeing will be at the heart of the construction program, including an innovative five-day work week supporting improved workforce diversity, productivity and work/life benefits during delivery of this once in a generation project. 

“John Holland is at the forefront of a culture shift within our industry to prioritise health and wellbeing. Our goal is to create workplaces that are healthy and safe, which is exactly the approach we have taken for the Sydney Children’s Hospital and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre,” Mr Bourne said. 

Main works on the project are due to begin in the coming months and the new health facility is expected to open in late 2025. Outpatient and allied health services will continue to be provided at the existing Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick during the construction period. 

The $658 million investment in the project is jointly funded. This includes $478 million from the State Government, $100 million from the Australian Government, $25 million from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, and $25 million from the Children’s Cancer Institute. 

In addition, the State will also provide a $30 million in-kind contribution for additional integrated facilities for the cancer centre. 

The Minderoo Foundation was announced as naming rights partner to the Children’s Comprehensive Centre Centre in April 2022 along with the announcement of a $15 million donation as part of an overall $50 million in philanthropic contributions towards the project. 

Source: John Holland; NSW Government – NSW Health; NSW Government – Randwick Campus Redevelopment; Roads & Infrastructure Australia