The construction of Tamworth’s Banksia Mental Health is well underway, with the bones of the building completed and only the internal fit-out to remain, with members of the embattled NSW Health turning up to Tamworth hospital to announce the milestone.
“It’s fantastic to see the new facility reach this milestone, taking us one step closer to delivering expanded mental health services for the Tamworth community,” Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said.
“We know this new facility means a lot to the community. It will offer a modern, safe and supportive environment to those who need it most, which is why I am thrilled to see this project head towards its final phase before opening later this year.”
Member of the Legislative Council for Tamworth Anthony D’Adam says he looked forward to the space taking shape, and that “this new mental health unit will make a real difference for the Tamworth community, providing more support close to home in a space designed with care and dignity in mind.”
The new unit is much closer to the hospital itself – close enough to be connected by a skybridge that will simplify patient transfer from the main hospital to the new facility, removing the need for vehicle transfers that Banksia required.
The new facility will have 37 beds in total, twelve more than the existing Banksia House, and include a high-acuity zone, and dedicated beds for both older persons and adolescents.
“It means that people of the Tamworth and New England north west area will have access to state of the art facilities in which to receive therapy and care,” Jonathan Holt, General Manager of Hunter New England Mental Health Services said.
“The facilities themselves will be more home-like, more therapeutic, more engaging, connected to country, and will allow them to sort of have just incredible care closer to home.”
Despite the recent strikes and exodus of psychiatry staff within NSW Health, with over 200 psychiatrists quitting salaried positions in order to take up higher paid contractual roles with the department, Holt was confident that the new facility will be fully staffed.
“We’ve worked hard,” Holt said.
“We’ve got good staffing levels now for our current unit, and we will look to expand that prior to the opening of the door, so that when we open the doors, we have adequate medical staff, adequate nursing staff, allied health staff, and adequate support staff to operate.”
It was crucial, Holt said, that these facilities remain in Tamworth.
“Ideally, we want to keep people in the community, and we support them through community mental services.”
“We’ll have delivery of the building before the end of 2025 and then we’ll open early in 2026,” Holt said.
The new facility is part of a $700 million spend by the State Government on mental health facilities, and, according to the Minister, has generated approximately 400 local jobs in the region, including local Gomeroi artist Tess Reading, who was also the artist behind Tamworth Regional Council’s rebranding, who created three artworks for the space.
“I had experience visiting and supporting someone that’s been in Banksia,” Reading said, “and the current space isn’t that welcoming and culturally safe.”
Connection to country was important for healing, Reading said, with her works, along with art installations by Amy Hammond and room language by Auntie Audrey Trindall, and will feature healing eucalyptus leaves, gathering circles to symbolise support, and the butterfly, an idea inspired by Hammond’s installation to symbolise journey and growth.
“I wanted to make sure my designs gave that feeling for people coming, because obviously people are coming from different countries to Tamworth, to be on Gomeroi country.”
Read all the way through to the end of the story? So did lots of other people. Advertise with New England Times to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.