Construction has now commenced on the new Family Health and Wellbeing Hub for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation in Elizabeth Vale is set to transform access to family health services across Adelaide’s northern suburbs
The new Family Health and Wellbeing Hub for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation in Elizabeth Vale is set to transform access to family health services across Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Located adjacent to Lyell McEwin Hospital, the purpose-built, community-focussed facility will be a space where for-purpose organisations working for social change can collaborate in one place. With a strong focus on the health and wellbeing of children and families, the project’s vision is to empower communities by addressing key social determinants, so that children and families in the North have every opportunity to thrive.
Led by the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation and made possible by a generous $26m contribution from the Australian Government through its Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, the project reflects a shared commitment to early intervention and integrated service models.
Conceived as a community destination rather than a traditional healthcare facility, the Hub will accommodate organisations focused on child development and parenting support. It will also include opportunity for student-supported health services, community spaces, and a dedicated space for parents of infants in the nearby Special Care Nursery.
Arranged across three levels, the building consolidates communal, clinical and short-stay functions within a calm, welcoming environment. A fully glazed ground floor is embedded in landscaped gardens, strengthening its connection to nature and enabling views in both directions. Flexible gathering and event areas activate this level, reinforcing the Hub’s role as an open and inclusive precinct.
Consultation and short-stay areas occupy the upper levels, set behind a curved screen that defines the building’s identity while regulating sunlight and privacy. The filtered façade tempers the form and introduces soft, dappled light to interiors designed for care and retreat. Inspired by the nearby Little Para River, the interiors echo its movement and depth through a warm material palette that fosters inclusion and a strong sense of belonging.
Internally, the spatial sequence shifts from open, shared areas to quieter zones of retreat, balancing visibility with discretion. This layered approach responds to the complex needs of families, carers and health professionals, supporting care through clarity, adaptability and human-scaled design.
Set to open in mid-2027, the Family Health and Wellbeing Hub will form a key component of the Playford Health and Wellbeing Precinct, delivering enduring social value through considered, inclusive architecture.
