Expressions of interest are now open for local community members to join the 2025 Project Community Advisory Group and the Mental Health Lived and Living Experience Co-design Group, to help shape planning for the $558 million Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital project.

Expressions of Interest close 5pm 27 February 2025.

Project Community Advisory Group

A Project Community Advisory Group was established in 2023, providing a patient, carer and community voice to inform planning for the new hospital, with valuable contributions which are guiding its development.

The 2025 Project Community Advisory Group will play a key role advising on the design of spaces including patient rooms, waiting and treatment areas, as well as main entry, retail spaces, and amenities such as outdoor spaces, quiet zones, and carer-friendly areas.

The Group will also contribute to the development of wayfinding and signage at the new hospital, along with arts and cultural initiatives within the facility.

The PCAG will be managed and supported by Health Infrastructure, in collaboration with Albury Wodonga Health (AWH).

The Mental Health Lived and Living Experience Co-Design Group

The Mental Health Lived and Living Experience Co-Design Group comprises of individuals with a lived and living experience, including carers, families, and kinship groups. Members will help guide the design of the new mental health unit’s interior, landscaping, and other elements, ensuring the space meets the needs of all users their families, carers and of course our staff.

Please take a few minutes to review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to better understand the requirements and expectations of each group.

What do PCAG members do?

Project Community Advisory Group members take part in meetings to discuss how we can make the new facilities:

• welcoming, safe and easy to get around

• promote well-being

• comfortable for patients, carers and visitors

• reflect the unique culture of the local community.

Members may be asked to comment on topics such as:

• the design of patient rooms, waiting and treatment areas, and main entry

• retail and amenity such as entry areas, toilets, outdoor spaces, food choices, quiet spaces, and carer zones
• wayfinding and signage
• arts and culture projects.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you:

• have been a hospital patient, carer, visitor, volunteer or worker
• live or work in Albury, Wodonga or the Border region
• want to help improve health facilities and access to health services for your community.

Membership is voluntary (unpaid). Most meetings will be in person but there may be online meetings from time to time.

What’s in the application?

To make sure the committee represents the diverse backgrounds of Border communities, we ask you to tell us a bit about yourself and why you’re interested in being a member. You will find questions about your age group, background and language preference. We are also looking for representatives from the Aboriginal community, people with lived mental health, disability and neurodiversity experience, and people with diverse cultural backgrounds.

How are members chosen?

We will review all the expressions of interest to ensure there is a diverse range of potential members. The final membership will be decided by a panel from Albury Wodonga Health and Health Infrastructure.

How often does the group meet?

The successful members will meet in March 2025 for an extended meeting to bring you up to date with the project, meet the other PCAG members and talk about how the group will work. This initial workshop will also look at the wayfinding around the site.

The group will meet every three to four months after that, regular meetings will run for 2 hours and will be in-person where possible. Membership will be for 12 months, with an opportunity to extend.

What if I’m not selected?

If you have not been selected for the group, there will be plenty of other opportunities to have your say. We will let you know how you can stay actively involved.

I’d like to apply, what do I have to do?

It only takes 5 minutes to apply.

You can also email us at HI-Albury@health.nsw.gov.au for a paper copy of the application, or phone us on (02) 9978 5444 to talk to a team member and apply over the phone.

If you need help with English, it’s OK to ask someone to help you fill in the survey, or we can organise an interpreter for you. Call 131 450 for an interpreter and ask them to call (02) 9978 5444. Thank you for your interest!

Who can join the Co-Design team for the new Mental Health Inpatient Unit?

We are looking for up to 6 community members who have:

• Lived and living experience of mental health conditions requiring hospital admission.

• Experience as carers, families, or kinship group members of someone admitted to a mental health unit.

What is the Co-Design team’s role?

We are building on the extensive consumer co-design work completed in 2022 to further develop the design of the new mental health inpatient unit. Architects are seeking additional input from consumers to refine the design and contribute to key aspects such as interior design, landscaping, and other key elements.

What is involved?

Team members will participate in 3 to 4 workshops in 2025, which will be held either online via Teams or in-person.

Please note: All co-design team members will be remunerated for their participation.

I’d like to apply, what do I have to do?

It only takes 5 minutes to apply online You can also email us at HI-Albury@health.nsw.gov.au for a paper copy of the application, or phone us on (02) 9978 5444 to talk to a team member and apply over the phone.

If you need help with English, it’s OK to ask someone to help you fill in the survey, or we can organise an interpreter for you. Call 131 450 for an interpreter and ask them to call (02) 9978 5444. Thank you for your interest!