Robina Private Hospital owner, Australian Unity, in partnership with hospital operator, Aurora Healthcare Australia, have lodged a development application with Gold Coast City Council for a circa. $150 million hospital extension as community demand for mental health and medical surgical services grows.

The proposed, new nine-level building will extend the 90-bed private hospital, which delivers private mental health, general medical, rehabilitation and day surgery inpatient services as well as day and outpatient service.

On completion the new building will be partially leased to Aurora Healthcare, Australia’s largest specialist private mental health provider.

Julia Strickland-Bellamy, Chief Executive Officer Australia of Aurora Healthcare said community demand for mental health services had grown significantly on the Gold Coast since Robina Private opened in late 2016 and it was now operating at full capacity.

“We opened Robina Private Hospital with the vision to meet ongoing community demand for mental health, rehabilitation and general medical services in one of the fastest-growing regions on the Gold Coast. For over five years we have successfully delivered these services along with providing day surgical procedures at our onsite day surgery.”

“Stage 2 expansion will enable Robina Private Hospital to expand all existing services and provide additional space and purpose-designed specialty units for the ever-growing health and mental health service requirements here on the Coast.”

“It will also provide recruitment opportunities for specialist doctors, allied health, nurses and staff generally to support this growing service and hospital expansion,” added Ms Strickland-Bellamy.

Chris Smith, General Manager of Healthcare Property at Australian Unity said the extension of Robina Private Hospital was in line with the longer-term vision for the Robina health precinct and critical to its next wave of growth.

“Robina Private Hospital plays a critical role in the broader Robina health precinct and its proximity to the public hospital provides patients and staff with convenience and amenity, while also alleviating some of the pressure on Robina public hospital.”

Australian Unity’s Healthcare Property Trust (AUHPT) is one of Australia’s preeminent investors in health precincts and has expanded its presence in key growth catchments in Queensland in recent years.

In addition to Robina Private Hospital, AUHPT owns Robina Medical and Dental Centre and the Campus Alpha Building on Campus Crescent, and a future development site at 34 Investigator Drive in Robina.

In November 2020, AUHPT completed the development of Queensland’s first digital hospital, the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), which forms part of Australian Unity’s $1.1 billion Herston Quarter Redevelopment in Brisbane. STARS will be part of a collaborative community, home to a number of health facilities, medical research institutes, universities and other organisations.

It is also advancing a $150 million private hospital development at Meadowbrook opposite Logan Hospital forming part of the Meadowbrook heath precinct, as well as a circa. $50 million development in the Birtinya Health Hub across the road from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

In November last year, AUHPT acquired three aged care assets in Capella Bay, Seabrook and Varsity Lakes in Queensland for $93.65 million on a sale and lease back arrangement with McKenzie Aged Care.

Robina Private Hospital benefits from Aurora Healthcare’s strong track record in providing mental health and rehabilitation services nation-wide. Across Australia, Aurora Healthcare has committed to significantly investing in expanded private health services and facilities to meet unmet demand. The company has also invested in a new, online mental health service to facilitate accessible mental health services for all Australians.

Aurora Healthcare owns and operates the 104-bed private mental health Currumbin Clinic on the southern Gold Coast, making it the largest private mental health provider in the region. The company is the nation’s largest specialty private mental health provider with 1,000 mental health beds across 14 standalone and integrated healthcare facilities.

Construction on the extension of Robina Private Hospital is expected to commence in late 2022 with completion scheduled for 2024.

ENDS

About Aurora Healthcare
Aurora Healthcare is a private healthcare specialty group, focused on mental health, rehabilitation, specialty medical and community services. Its Australian portfolio comprises 16 private hospitals and community services in Australia’s major cities and key regional areas. With 1,000 mental health beds, 500 rehabilitation/medical beds and a range of outpatient and day programs Aurora Healthcare is Australia's largest specialist private mental health provider, and leading provider of rehabilitation services.

About Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust
Australian Unity's $3 billion Healthcare Property Trust was launched in 1999 and has grown to become one of Australia’s largest and most successful unlisted property funds. As one of Australia’s original purpose driven investments it is currently ranked in the top 20 managed funds invested in by self-managed superannuation funds. AUHPT currently owns a portfolio of 76 high-grade healthcare assets, including hospitals, medical clinics, aged-care facilities, day surgeries, medical offices, consulting rooms, rehabilitation units, radiology and pathology centres.

About Australian Unity
Established in 1840, Australian Unity is a member-owned wellbeing company with 400,000 members and more than 700,000 customers. Our range of health, wealth and care products and services provides member, customer and community value that is supportive of personal and community wellbeing.