A fun and modern rehabilitation space to help kids recover faster and get back to normal life after illness or injury has been unveiled at the soon-to-be opened $250 million Monash Children’s Hospital.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today had an early look at the hospital’s new rehabilitation spaces, which will provide therapy for thousands of young patients each year, as well as specifically-built services for children with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and neurological conditions.

It has spacious indoor and outdoor areas including a running and cycling track, more room for basketball and ball games, a trampoline and a rock climbing incline.

The space has been clinically-designed with better and safer surfaces and more activities that physiotherapists can use to help children regain or improve their mobility.

Ms Hennessy was also joined by Don Reynolds from Freemasons Victoria for a sneak peek at the new hospital’s surgical ward.

Freemasons Victoria have donated $1.8 million to the new hospital, allowing surgical services to remain at the forefront of treatment and care.

The new Monash Children’s Hospital will provide a range of surgical services, including specialist neurosurgery, plastics, orthopaedic and urological surgeries. The bright and spacious ward has been designed so parents can stay at their child’s side until they are sedated, and be back with them when they wake up after a procedure.

Monash Children’s Hospital will treat an additional 7000 children every year from the growing communities of Melbourne’s south-east, the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland. It will also provide an additional 60,000 outpatient treatments each year, as well as over 40,000 admissions per year.

The new hospital will open to its first patients in April. It has 230 beds – including cancer, intensive care and mental health services – as well as 27 consulting rooms and three dedicated children’s operating theatres and a children’s procedure room.

The Andrews Labor Government also provided $3.8 million to build a helipad on the Monash Children’s Hospital rooftop so that kids facing life threatening emergencies can get the urgent care they need quicker.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“The new surgical ward will mean parents can stay by their child’s side for as long as possible, and will help kids to get back to school, sport and their family and friends as soon as possible.”

“Monash’s Children’s new rehab space will help kids with mobility issues heal quicker, so they can go home sooner and life can return to normal.”

“This is just another example of how this world class hospital has been purpose-built with the needs of children and parents front and centre. It will change and save the lives of sick children, delivering better patient outcomes and care.”