The NSW Government has committed $540 million to build the new Westmead Centre for Mental Health.
The Westmead Centre for Mental Health will enable mental health services located at Cumberland Hospital West Campus to relocate to a new, purpose-built facility in the Westmead Health Precinct connected to Westmead Hospital.
It will support contemporary best-practice care, allowing patients to be treated in a therapeutic environment in line with state and national mental healthcare reforms.
A link bridge connection to Westmead Hospital will provide better integration between Western Sydney Local Health District mental health and other clinical services and facilities including the Emergency Department and main entry.
Construction on the Westmead Centre for Mental Health is underway and is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Project Information
Benefits
The project will:
- Deliver a new, purpose-built mental health facility in Western Sydney that meets the needs of people requiring mental health care.
- Support the implementation of key state and national mental healthcare reforms.
- Support contemporary best-practice care, allowing consumers to be treated in a therapeutic environment that is person-centred, holistic, recovery-oriented and trauma-informed.
- Provide an environment that promotes the safety and improves the experience of consumers, staff, carers and visitors.
- Increase service integration by co-locating mental health services with other clinical services at Westmead Health Precinct.
- Improve environmental sustainability.
Scope
The project will include:
- Acute mental health beds including beds for youth, adolescents, adults, older persons and people living with eating disorders.
- Mental health intensive care and high dependency units
- A mental health assessment area
- Sub and non-acute mental health beds
- Multidisciplinary ambulatory and outpatient services.
Building plans were put on display at Cumberland Hospital in July 2022.
The working plans of the internal layout of the building were developed in response to the feedback generated during Rounds 1 and 2 of the Project User Groups (PUGs).
Staff, consumers and carers provided their feedback on the plans to progress further planning and detailed designs.
The NSW Government approved the Westmead Centre for Mental Health as a State Significant Development. View the Westmead Centre for Mental Health project documents on the NSW Planning Portal.
The new Westmead Centre for Mental Health design is designed to respond to the Western Sydney Local Health District's Mental Health Clinical Services Plan (CSP).
The objective of the CSP is to enable a Western Sydney Mental Health Service that significantly improves sustainable clinical outcomes and responds to state and national reforms in mental health care.
The schematic and detailed designs for the Westmead Centre for Mental Health were shared in September 2022 and completed in the same year.
The designs for the 10-storey building, which is shaped like a 'helping hand', showcase the modern facilities that will provide treatment and care within calm, peaceful and therapeutic environments to support patients' journey to recovery.
Following extensive planning and engagement with hospital staff, clinicians and consumers, the complex has been designed to maximise views to green space and Toongabbie Creek. It also provides connection to the Central Acute Services Building at Westmead Hospital.
The designs were showcases at a series of information sessions where hospital staff, consumers and the community were able to view the plans and provide feedback.
Following further consultation and detailed design development, the plans were lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment in late 2022, as part of a State Significant Development Application.
Project timeline
Building a hospital involves 3 key phases - planning, design and delivery.
Planning
| 2022 | Project announced |
| 2023 | Master planning completed. State Significant Development Application submitted |
| late-2023 | Planning approval granted |
Design
| early-2022 | Design progresses with staff and community consultation |
| 2022 | Schematic and detailed designs completed and submitted with master plan |
Delivery
| August 2023 | Early construction work to prepare the site commences, including demolition of existing buildings and infrastructure works |
| December 2023 | NSW Government approves business case to progress the main tender for construction of the new building |
| late-2024 | Tender for the main works been awarded, main works to start on new building |
| 2027 | Building expected to be complete Mental health services at Cumberland Hospital West Campus and Westmead Hospital will relocate to the new Westmead Centre for Mental Health |
News and updates
Construction workers share what keeps them grounded for R U OK? Day
The Westmead Centre for Mental Health is set to be the largest purpose built mental health facility in NSW. This R U OK? Day, we spoke to our project team about the positive mental health practices that keep them grounded.
Construction reaches highest point
Construction of the new $540 million mental health facility at Westmead has reached its highest point, with a topping out ceremony marking a major milestone in the delivery of NSW’s largest mental health facility.
NAIDOC Week celebration
As part of NAIDOC Week 2026, the Integrated Mental Health Complex delivery team and project partners came together for a meaningful sharing session celebrating the histories, cultures, achievements and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
First major concrete pour marks milestone for NSW’s largest mental health facility at Westmead
The concrete will form the foundation for the new state-of-the-art health facility, marking the next phase of construction as the building takes shape.
Builder appointed for NSW’s largest mental health facility at Westmead
The new Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead is a step closer with the main works contractor appointed.
Inside Western Sydney's new Integrated Mental Health Complex
A fly-through animation video animation showcases the mental health complex, which when complete will the largest facility of its kind in NSW.
Community engagement
Consultation with key stakeholders including hospital staff, clinicians, consumers, carers and the local community is essential to the planning and design of the new complex and will continue throughout project delivery.
For more information about the project, go to our Have your say page
Related documents
Project documents
Search Westmead Centre for Mental Health project documents including plans, designs and approvals.
Contact our project team
For more information about the Westmead Centre for Mental Health, email the project team at HI-Westmead@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9978 5466.
You can find more information about other mental health redevelopment projects in Western Sydney on the Western Sydney Local Health District website.