Work begins on health and learning hub in Castlemaine

Mt Alexander Shire locals studying for a career in healthcare will soon have access to first-class training facilities close to home, with works starting on Bendigo TAFE’s new Community Health and Learning Hub.

The start of the building project, which is on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, was marked by a Traditional Owners’ smoking ceremony. Bendigo TAFE has engaged Barpa, a majority First Nations owned company, to undertake the construction.

Bendigo TAFE is collaborating with Dhelkaya Health to create the hub, which will be based in a renovated hospital wing at 142 Cornish Street, Castlemaine. The new centre will have training facilities for Bendigo TAFE’s health services qualifications, with planned subjects including allied health, nursing and aged care.

The hub has been designed by Australian architecture firm Architectus. It will be a multi-use space that replicates the real-world healthcare settings students will eventually work in, including a 4-bed healthcare space, a 2-bed residential aged care space and a unit that simulates a home care environment.

As well as giving students opportunities to gain healthcare skills that are in high demand, the partnership with Dhelkaya Health also means students will have direct access to placements and jobs in the local health industry.

Dhelkaya Health will also use the space for training development for staff in the graduate nurse program, external students and the Monash University GP program. It will have capacity to host more than 60 students at once.

The hub is expected to be ready for students to start training on site from late 2025.

Government has invested $4 million in this project from the Building Better TAFE Fund, which was set up to help ensure students have the best facilities to train in, close to home.