Western Health

06/03/2026

This Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day.

At Western Health, 74.8% of our workforce identify as women. Today, we recognise their significant contributions across our hospitals, services and community care.

It is also a time to acknowledge the challenges and barriers women continue to face. Equality is not an advantage for some. It is about dignity, safety and fairness for everyone.

This year’s theme, Balance the Scales, is a reminder that meaningful change takes action.

Throughout 2026, Western Health will offer a series of online events for staff focused on supporting and empowering women. Topics include:
• sexual harassment and gender violence
• menopause
• strategies to maximise superannuation
• returning to work after parental or extended leave

While these events are primarily aimed at women, all staff are encouraged to learn more and be involved so we can balance the scales together, at work, at home and in our communities.

Practical support remains an important part of our commitment. Around 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, yet many never seek formal help or justice.

In 2025:
• 77% of Western Health employees said they were confident they would be supported to take family violence leave
• 52 employees were supported to access this leave

Supporting women’s leadership is also a priority. Last year:
• 89 women participated in leadership programs through our Culture and Organisation Development team
• more than 140 nursing and midwifery staff took part in leadership programs, including Clinician to Manager and Advanced Clinical Leadership

We are seeing the impact of this work:
• 64.5% of Western Health’s Senior Leadership team identify as women
• 64.7% of women and 71.8% of men agree Western Health has a flexible work culture

There is still more to do. We remain committed to advancing equity, safety and opportunity for women and girls.

04/03/2026

As Western Health starts a new chapter in our new hospital, we are preserving our history through beautifully detailed miniature artworks by Melbourne-based artist David Hourigan.

From tiny staircases to hundreds of hand-crafted windows, each piece captures former Footscray Hospital buildings and the stories connected to them.

Now displayed at the new Footscray Hospital, these artworks offer a space to pause, reflect and remember.

🎥 Watch to see the incredible detail up close.



David Hourigan miniature artist

27/02/2026

🎉 Our new Footscray Hospital is now open 🎉

Before you visit, take a quick virtual orientation of the building. This short video walks you through entrances, key services and what to expect when you arrive.

We encourage you to share this with family and friends so everyone feels confident navigating the new hospital.

Learn more about the new Footscray Hospital:
https://westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital



Victorian Department of Health Victorian Health Building Authority

18/02/2026

The new Footscray Hospital officially opened its doors to the public today, signalling a historic chapter in healthcare for Melbourne’s west.

All services have now been transferred from the original hospital, with 115 patients carefully and safely moved to the new facility.

The seamless patient transfer reflects 18 months of careful planning, preparation and collaboration.

As one chapter closes and another begins, we carry forward the legacy of care that defined the original Footscray Hospital for more than seven decades.

A big thank you to all our staff, volunteers, patients and consumers, and partners, whose dedication, hard work and teamwork have made today a roaring success.

You can visit the Footscray Hospital page to learn all about the new hospital at https://westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital

17/02/2026

The new Footscray Hospital opens tomorrow, Wednesday 18 February.

We will share live updates throughout the patient move day so you can follow the action as it happens.

Follow our live blog for real-time updates, photos and stories from across the site 👇
https://westernhealth.org.au/news/new-footscray-hospital-patient-move-day-live-updates

To support the safe transfer of some 180 patients, we’re asking members of the public to please not visit either the original or new Footscray hospitals on this day, unless they need emergency care.

The current Footscray Hospital Emergency Department will close at 8 am, and the new Footscray Hospital ED open at 8 am.

If you need to attend the Hospital, please allow extra travel time on opening day and follow onsite signage.

View full location details and map here:
🔗 westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital

17/02/2026

Our CEO Prof. Russell Harrison joined Sharnelle and Bob on ABC Melbourne to talk all things new Footscray Hospital.

The new Footscray Hospital opens at 8am tomorrow, Wednesday 18 February.

To support the safe transfer of some 180 patients, we’re asking members of the public to please not visit either the original or new Footscray hospitals on this day, unless they need emergency care.

The current Footscray Hospital Emergency Department will close at 8 am, and the new Footscray Hospital ED open at 8 am.

View full location details and map here:
🔗 westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital

Listen to the full segment:
🔗 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-breakfast/prof-russell-harrison/106348410

If you need to attend the Hospital, please allow extra travel time on opening day and follow onsite signage.

16/02/2026

Here’s how to get to the new Footscray Hospital 👇

🚗 By car
Enter the car park via:
• 89 Ballarat Road, Footscray
• 20 Geelong Road, Footscray

🚊 By tram
The 82 tram runs between Moonee Ponds and Footscray.
Get off at Geelong Road/Droop Street, the closest stop to the hospital.

🚆 By train
Take the Sunbury, Werribee or Williamstown Metro lines, or the Ballarat, Bendigo or Geelong V/Line services to Footscray Station.
From there, catch the 82 tram to Geelong Road/Droop Street.

🚌 By bus
• Route 406 stops at Victoria University/Ballarat Road, near the hospital.
• Route 409 stops at Stirling Street/Moore Street or Footscray City College/Farnsworth Avenue, both close to the hospital.

View the full location details and map here:
🔗 westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital

Please allow extra travel time on opening day and follow onsite signage.

To support the safe transfer of some 180 patients, we’re asking members of the public to please not visit either the original or new Footscray hospitals on this day, unless they need emergency care. The current Footscray Hospital ED will close at 8 am, and the new Footscray Hospital ED open at 8 am.

14/02/2026

Sunlight is more than a design feature. It supports healing. ☀️

An article in today's The Age explores how the new Footscray Hospital has been designed differently, with natural light, green spaces and welcoming areas that support patient wellbeing and recovery.

This is part of our commitment at Western Health to create environments that feel calm, inclusive and community-focused.

Read the full article:
🔗 https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/the-science-of-sunlight-why-the-new-footscray-hospital-is-built-differently-20260211-p5o1bv.html

The new $1.5 billion hospital is ditching windowless and noisy wards for soundproofed, sunny rooms to slash patients’ recovery times.

11/02/2026

At new Footscray Hospital, you can access the Emergency Department from both 89 Ballarat Road, Footscray and 20 Geelong Road, Footscray from 8 am on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

To support the safe transfer of patients on 18 February, we’re asking that members of the public don’t visit either the original or new Footscray Hospital on this day, unless they need emergency care.
For more information, please visit westernhealth.org.au/location/new-footscray-hospital

If you need care and it is not an emergency, please consider these alternative pathways to care:

👉 For mild to moderate conditions, consider using the free video-based healthcare service Victorian Virtual Emergency Department at www.vved.org.au

👉 Telephone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24

👉 Visit the following Priority Primary Care Centres at:

📌 Ground floor, 31 Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong. Ph: (03) 9317 1717


📌 247-251 Station Rd, Melton. Ph: (03) 8746 0262.

📌 421 Ballarat Rd, Sunshine. Ph: (03) 8539 2772.

In a life-threatening medical emergency, please call Triple Zero (000).

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

A sneak peek at the west’s brand-new Hospital 🆕🏥

On Sunday, more than 3,000 community members were treated to a sneak peek of the new Footscray Hospital, including a patient ward and the Emergency Department.

All of us here at Western Health are looking forward to caring for patients in our new Hospital.

At 8am on Wednesday 18 February, the original Footscray Hospital in Gordon Street will close, and the new Footscray Hospital will commence providing patient care. To support the safe transfer of patients, we’re asking that members of the public don’t visit either the current or new Footscray Hospital on Wednesday 18 February, unless they need emergency care.

The address of our new Emergency Department is 20 Geelong Road.

Footscray Hospital Community Open Day was presented by Western Health and Open House Melbourne, with thanks to the Plenary Health consortium including COX, BLP and Tract, Victoria University, Melbourne Australia Footscray Community Arts Australian Tapestry Workshop and the Victorian Government.

29/01/2026

Our new Footscray Hospital will open to patients next month! Our new Emergency Department is looking incredible 🚑🏥

We’re now recruiting for experienced Emergency nurses to join our team.

Find out more and apply: https://careers.wh.org.au/job/Registered-Nurse-Emergency-Services/1328659666/

Share this with a nurse you know!