Australia's Victorian Government has unveiled the initial designs for a significant expansion of the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, which includes a new seven-storey tower.

The A$535m ($365.3m) project aims to enhance healthcare services for Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs.

The new tower will be constructed above the emergency department, which has been newly expanded.

It will feature 34 pre-operative and post-operative beds along with an operating complex with up to five theatres, increasing the hospital's surgical capacity by 7,500 surgeries annually.

This expansion is expected to significantly reduce waiting times for patients requiring medical procedures.

Additionally, the tower will enhance maternity services, providing new and upgraded birthing suites and maternity beds to support approximately 2,400 births each year.

An intensive care unit at the tower will cater to the most critically ill patients with advanced medical technology.

The expansion will also include a new central sterile services department, aiming to streamline the sterilisation and delivery of medical equipment, thereby increasing the efficiency of hospital operations.

This enhancement is anticipated to assist in reducing patient waiting lists for surgeries.

The design of the tower has been developed following consultations with staff, visitors and patients to ensure it meets the community's needs.

The exterior is designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing hospital infrastructure and the bustling Monash Medical Centre precinct.

Furthermore, the project is set to generate more than 1,500 construction jobs and is expected to support further job growth in the medical and associated industries.

Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas said: “The seven-storey tower will ensure world-class care for local families in Melbourne’s growing southeast, with improved birthing and maternity facilities and additional theatres to undertake more surgery.

“Monash Medical Centre is one of the busiest hospitals in Melbourne and is forecast to experience  a significant increase in presentations over the next decade – that is why we are getting on with a vital project.”

Early works are delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and are scheduled to commence next year, with completion targeted for 2029.

This expansion is part of the larger Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund, which received more than A$1.6bn in the Victorian Budget 2024/2025.