The Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre has reached a major milestone, with construction of the new 12-storey building reaching its highest point.
The new home of Children’s Cancer Institute, the centre will deliver a state-of-the-art environment, with the facilities to house more than 900 dedicated cancer researchers, scientists, and clinicians, working side-by-side for the first time with the single goal of improving care and outcomes for children with cancer.
Professor Michelle Haber, Executive Director of Children’s Cancer Institute, emphasised the Centre will meet the “gold standard” international model of comprehensive cancer centres, with the influence to be felt globally.
“We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone. The Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre will be the first in Australia entirely focused on improving the outcomes for children with cancer by combining globally leading research with exceptional clinical care. Through this seamless integration, the Centre will drive research excellence and ensure discoveries swiftly translate from the lab bench to the bedside, locally, nationally and internationally.
“The Centre will also develop interdisciplinary leaders and the workforce of the future, by educating and training researchers, clinicians, clinician scientists and allied health workers in new technologies and treatment approaches, to bring world-leading solutions for children with cancer. This is a generational opportunity to reimagine how research can inform clinical care with one united aim of curing every child of cancer.”
Professor Haber today joined NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park, Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler, Member for Coogee Dr Marjorie O’Neill, and Federal Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite on the Randwick Campus Redevelopment site for a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony.
Honouring a long-held construction tradition, a native Water Gum tree was lifted onto the roof of the new building.
The Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre is on track for completion in late 2025 and will include:
- New world-class wet and dry laboratories to support integrated research, education and training
- A new and enhanced children’s intensive care unit
- A new and larger children's emergency department
- A new medical short stay unit
- A new neurosciences centre
- A new virtual care centre and hospital command centre - KidsHQ
- Inpatient units for medical, surgical and sleep studies
- A day oncology centre and inpatient units, along with a dedicated bone marrow transplant unit
- A new children’s hospital pharmacy
- Improved parent amenities, including an Aboriginal Gathering Space and overnight and oncology bereavement rooms
- Education and training spaces.
Minderoo Foundation Co-Chair Nicola Forrest spoke to the importance of the new development.
“We recognise the devastating impact cancer has on children, their families and the wider community.
"Our investment in Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre is another step towards a future where childhood cancer and the impact of treatment is mitigated, thanks to the innovative collaboration between world-class clinicians and researchers.”
The Centre will include advanced laboratory spaces spanning the entire spectrum of childhood cancer, alongside integrated, specialist cancer treatment, education and research, aiming to transform childhood cancer treatment and become one of the world’s leading paediatric cancer centres.
The NSW and Federal Governments have partnered with Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network including the Kids Cancer Centre, and UNSW Sydney to plan and deliver Australia’s first Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre within the new children’s hospital and university buildings on site. Philanthropic contributions have also been provided from Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and Minderoo Foundation.
The project is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Children’s Cancer Institute and UNSW Sydney, with John Holland as the principal contractor.
For more information on the Randwick Campus Redevelopment and SCH1/MCCCC project, visit www.randwickcampusredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au
