The Castlemaine Community Health and Learning Hub will deliver vital training for Victorians pursuing a career in healthcare, boosting local job opportunities and strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

This project is made possible thanks to a $4 million Victorian Government investment and will be delivered by Bendigo TAFE and Dhelkaya Health. It is expected to be completed by  mid-2025.

The innovative regional initiative will help to address skills shortages and training opportunities in the local heathcare sector.  It will offer training facilities to deliver Bendigo TAFE health services qualifications like allied health, nursing and aged care. 

The Castlemaine Community Health and Learning Hub will include refurbishment of a hospital wing at Dhelkaya Health’s Castlemaine campus and will include: 

• 4 bed health care simulation space
• 2 bed aged care simulation (residential care)
• home unit simulation (in home care)
• general purpose classrooms, complemented by student breakout, storage, reception and a shared staff office space.

Once complete the first-class training and education space will: 

• align with local health workforce needs,  
• support modern learning and teaching practices, emphasising active, student-centric learning, 
• foster collaboration and teamwork among students, educators, industry affiliates and community partners, and  
• facilitate remote program delivery to cater to students' diverse needs.

All spaces will be shared by Bendigo TAFE for training delivery and by Dhelkaya Health for training development for staff in the graduate nurse program, external students and the Monash University GP program.

A program of consultation with Dhelkaya Heath staff and local community including schools, employers and stakeholders will help to inform the planning and development of this innovative training hub. 

Building refurbishment works are set to begin in early-2025 with the Castlemaine Community Health and Learning Hub to be complete mid-2025.