Better men’s health and youth support services across the inner north is the hope with redevelopment works on the Reservoir Men’s Shed and Youthzone nearing completion.
Funded through the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund, the $1 million project is replacing the current Men’s Shed/Youth zone with a new purpose-built facility that accommodates the Men’s Shed, Aboriginal health, social support, youth, community programs and disability, and therapeutic groups.
The new buildings feature two community meetings spaces connected to the facility’s garden, multipurpose community rooms, men’s shed workshop, storage spaces, shared community kitchen and upgraded pathways and amenities.
The complex is on track for completion in August. The redevelopment is delivering modern, more spacious and safer facilities for local men and youth to access the health and support services they need.
The Fund provides money for construction, remodelling and refurbishment pro-jects, equipment, information and communication technology and other vital upgrade works to expand capacity, improve patient amenity, while enhancing safety and infection prevention and control measures.
MHIF has funded a total of 72 projects across metropolitan Melbourne to date, representing a $265 million investment, a representative said.
The Fund supports metropolitan health services to meet service demand, while helping people return home and get back to work, school, family or community life more quickly.
Funding also enables health services and agencies to adopt new technologies and deliver contemporary models of care, improving the quality and safety of care for patients and staff.
Preston MLA Nathan Lambert said:
“The Reservoir Men’s Shed and Youthzone facility does great work in the local community and we’re ensuring these valuable services can continue to flourish in future.”
Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health, said:
“Through the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund, we are delivering projects right across Melbourne that help support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and the communities in which they live.”
“This new, bigger Reservoir Men’s Shed and Youthzone facility means that even more people can access these important community services in a purpose-built space,” Ms Thomas said.