The expansion of Barwon Health’s Youang Surgery Centre represents a significant milestone in the region’s healthcare expansion and delivers the early works of the broader Barwon Women’s and Children’s. Located at University Hospital Geelong, the centre will improve access to endoscopy, day surgery, and specialist services.

Since the project’s inception in 2021, MBM has supported the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) and Barwon Health through all stages of planning and development – from the feasibility study and business case to construction completion. MBM led a comprehensive cost management process to ensure the project was delivered within budget, cost risks were identified early, and both the government and community received the best value for money.

During the Detailed Design phase, the project was enhanced to accommodate additional services from the Gretta Volum Centre (GVC) and new specialisations such as ophthalmology, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and urology. The Youang Surgery Centre’s key additions included three new procedure rooms, anaesthetic rooms, a set-up room, and a discharge lounge enabled through better space planning and circulation improvements.

Sustainability measures were also incorporated despite the modest expansion footprint. The sustainability scope included the use of low embodied energy and low-maintenance materials, alongside low-VOC interior finishes.

MBM’s team was led by Director Lee Williams and Associate Lyn Yang, with support from Tim Rice, Tram Truong, Lynda Cormie, and Milad Elyasi. The health experts provided detailed cost planning and strategic advice that aligned evolving design priorities with available funding, and mitigated project risks throughout the Youang Surgery Centre’s development.

The GVC’s relocation of services to the expanded Youang Surgery Centre was completed on 14 March 2025 and marked the successful delivery of early works in the wider Barwon Women’s and Children’s. MBM’s continued involvement has ensured the Youang Surgery Centre is efficient, sustainable, and responsive to community healthcare needs.

Lee Williams and Lyn Yang acknowledged the collaborative effort, with Lyn stating:

“It’s been a pleasure to support the VHBA through each stage of this project and contribute to the delivery of quality care and expanded services for the Geelong community.”