Page 64 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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growing economies in the nation. Over the past four years, 3,200 new businesses have established in the territory and 19,600 new jobs have been created.
But whilst this is very strong economic data, our city is much more than just that. We live in a city that is environmentally sustainable, lively, progressive and inclusive. Data clearly supports the fact that we are a welcoming place that people want to come to live in, to work in and to raise a family in. We believe that the ultimate goal of our economic, social and environmental policies should always be to enhance the collective wellbeing of our community.
That is why last year I announced the development a set of wellbeing indicators to help guide future government decision-making and priorities for the future. These indicators will help us measure how Canberra is performing, based on what Canberrans believe is necessary to live a quality life. Next month, I will announce the full detail of our new wellbeing framework, which, from this year on, will be reported against as part of the territory’s annual budget process.
In the Health portfolio, Minister Stephen-Smith will continue the important work already underway to deliver our greater than $500 million critical care and emergency facility, known as the SPIRE project, at the Canberra Hospital. The facility will deliver more beds and operating theatres, a new and expanded intensive care unit, a new and expanded emergency department, a new mental health short stay unit and more. The minister will also be focusing on hiring more nurses, doctors and staff to deliver these services.
We are also expanding the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children to deliver more specialist facilities for new mothers and their babies. The new expansion will also include an adolescent mental health unit. The SPIRE project and the upgrades to the Centenary Hospital will be the largest expansion of the Canberra Hospital since it opened, ensuring that public health care expands as our city’s population expands, and as our community’s needs expand.
Later this year we will also open our newest walk-in centre in Dickson, creating a network of five walk-in centres. In addition to the Tuggeranong, Belconnen, Gungahlin and Weston Creek facilities that are already open, we add the inner north to this network. These investments will futureproof our healthcare system and ensure that we are able to deliver the healthcare services that Canberrans need, when and where they need them.
The Southside Community Step Up Step Down centre is expected to be operational by July this year. This will be the fourth facility of its kind in the ACT, demonstrating our commitment to building our community-based mental health support capacity to prevent relapse and to assist recovery from an acute episode of mental illness. The Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing has conducted a review to understand why mental health conditions remain a high concern for young people in the ACT, with findings due for release in March of this year. The office will use these findings to support children and young people to enhance their mental health and wellbeing, and also to prevent more severe illness.
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