The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (WCH Foundation) has celebrated an exciting milestone, the start of construction for a new Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Elizabeth Vale, marked with a Breaking of the Sod ceremony on 17 February 2026.

Construction is being led by Mossop Construction + Interiors, with the Hub expected to open mid-2027. Located adjacent to the Lyell McEwin Hospital, this vibrant facility will bring families, children, and community organisations together, providing access to vital health services closer to home and fostering connection across the community.

With $26 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP), the Hub is set to transform the way families access health and wellbeing services in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. The uPPP supports projects that unite communities, grow local economies, and bring essential services closer to those who need them most.

“The Hub has the potential to make a profound difference to a region experiencing entrenched disadvantage. We are excited to be one step closer to bringing to life our vision of a vibrant, village-based approach to health and wellbeing to the community,” said Verity Gobbett, CEO WCH Foundation.

Representatives from WCH Foundation, Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN), City of Playford, NAHLN, Flinders University, and the federal government attended the Breaking of the Sod ceremony to celebrate the start of this transformative project.

This Hub isn’t just a building. It’s a place where families, neighbours, and organisations can come together to learn, connect, and thrive. It’s a bright step forward for the North, and for the many children and families who will benefit for years to come.

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce that it will lead a new major project delivering a transformative Community Health and Wellbeing Hub, serving families in the North.

The visionary project which aims to address vital needs in the community has been made possible thanks to the funding announced today as part of the Australian Government’s urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP).

The WCH Foundation secured land within Adelaide’s Northern Health and Wellbeing Precinct thanks to a generous philanthropic donor with a desire to build capacity for people of the North. The WCH Foundation, working with values-aligned partners across sectors, has developed the vision for the Community Health and Wellbeing Hub which will positively impact the health outcomes of families in Adelaide’s northern region. The project will strengthen and extend our support of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network’s statewide reach, with the aligned goal of delivering care “closer to home”.

Today it was announced that the WCH Foundation’s application for additional funding to develop this vision was awarded by the urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP).

• The uPPP seeks to support transformative investment in urban precincts based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities.
• The program focuses on a partnership approach, bringing together governments, businesses and communities to deliver multi-purpose urban precincts that are place-based, tailored to local needs and positioned around a shared vision, need or theme.

Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Adelaide’s North. Image is for illustration purposes only.

This funding will enable the Foundation and its collaborators to create a welcoming space dedicated to improving family health and wellbeing. The facility will offer a wide range of services, with a focus on early child development, pregnancy and parenting support, and programs designed to strengthen community connections.

Key features include a student-led allied health clinic offering affordable care, facilities for trialing new models of care, and sleep rooms to support parents of babies in LMH’s Special Care Baby Unit. Additionally, parents will have the opportunity to engage in programs designed to build valuable lifelong skills.

The project represents a collaborative effort to address vital needs in the community, particularly for families in the formative first five years of a child’s life.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Australian Government for their contribution to this project. This milestone is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved and the belief in the power of partnership and collaboration. The Community Health and Wellbeing Hub has the potential to make a profound difference to a region experiencing entrenched disadvantage. We are excited to be one step closer to bringing to life our vision of a vibrant community resource that fosters health, learning, and connection to the people who need it most,” says Verity Gobbett, CEO WCH Foundation.

Stay tuned as we progress on this exciting journey to create a brighter future for families in the North!

All Images are for illustration purposes only.