Designed by architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke (CHC), the Bendigo TAFE’s Health and Community Centre of Excellence aims to address the growing need for qualified hospital, aged care, home care, and community services personnel in the greater Bendigo region.
With Bendigo’s population forecast to expand by a third by 2031, the growing demand for health and community services in the region is being met by a number of recent key projects including the redevelopment of St John of God Hospital Bendigo (also designed by CHC) and the construction of Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre.
ClarkeHopkinsClarke has partnered with Bendigo TAFE to deliver the innovative new centre which will facilitate exciting vocational career paths for local students in industries where strong demand for talent has been projected.
“This is a key project which brings together our expertise in both healthcare and education,” ClarkeHopkinsClarke partner Justin Littlefield says.
The $17.7 million project, supported by the Victorian Government, includes simulation labs so that students can experience what it’s like to work in a hospital ward.
“This has been an exceptional project because it brings together current approaches to pedagogy, healthcare and technology,” says Littlefield.
“Students in the Centre of Excellence will be able to experience virtual labs where projected images simulate different learning scenarios, recreating environments and situations they’ll face in the workforce,” Mr Littlefield says.
Work has now commenced to transform a three-storey brick building on campus, replacing the bricks with a contemporary glass facade that will enhance natural light and aid productivity and wellbeing for students, visitors, lecturers and staff.
The new building design will boast adaptable learning spaces including mobile AV terminals and learning environments with operable walls enabling spaces to be adapted depending on class sizes and changing course needs over time.