Builder announced for Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation facility

The new facility, co-located on the Maitland Hospital campus in Metford, is being delivered as part of the $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program, an initiative to reform mental health care across NSW.

Health Infrastructure Executive Director, Rural and Regional, Amanda Bock said the new Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation facility will enhance specialist mental health services to improve support for individuals requiring ongoing mental health care, and the facility's design has been shaped by extensive consultation with staff, consumers, and community members.

“We are proud to see this vital mental health facility moving ahead. This project is about creating a safe, therapeutic environment that supports recovery and rehabilitation for people living with a mental illness,” Ms Bock said.

“We’ve worked closely with clinicians, staff, people with lived experience, and the local Aboriginal community to ensure this facility meets the needs of those it will serve.”

The facility will include 64 secure forensic and mental health rehabilitation beds, each with single bedrooms and private ensuites.

The facility also features shared living spaces, indoor and outdoor therapy areas, landscaped walking paths and a culturally inclusive design to create a supportive environment that promotes recovery, wellbeing and reintegration into the community. The architecture for the new facility embraces natural materials and residential forms, integrating with the surrounding landscape to create a calm and welcoming space.

Key features include:

• Light-filled courtyards and communal areas
• Sensory rooms and therapy spaces
• Skylights and large windows
• Therapeutic gardens and walking paths managed by consumers

Executive Director Hunter New England Mental Health Services, Dr Anand Swamy said the Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation facility has been designed with the needs of consumers, staff and visitors front of mind.

“Our staff are looking forward to relocating to these new, purpose-built facilities, and we are looking forward to working with the building team as the project starts to take shape,” Dr Swamy said.

Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed following a competitive tender process and brings extensive experience in delivering complex health infrastructure projects across NSW.

Construction is expected to begin early next year and is scheduled to be completed in 2028. The community will continue to be updated as work progresses, including opportunities for engagement, employment, and local supplier involvement.

The new Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation facility is being delivered by Hunter New England Local Health District and Health Infrastructure.