Ryan Park
Minister for Health
Minister for Regional Health
Minister for Illawarra and the South Coast

Steve Whan
Member for Monaro

MEDIA RELEASE

Critical key health worker accommodation arrives in Cooma

Monday, 16 December 2024

Healthcare workers in Cooma will soon have access to modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation, following the arrival of 12 new units to support staff at Cooma Hospital and Health Service.

Member for Monaro Steve Whan toured the new key worker accommodation units, which are being delivered as part of the NSW Government's $45/3 million Key Worker Accommodation Program.

The self-contained accommodation units are currently being installed on the hospital grounds, on the Bombala Street side of the Cooma Health Service. Each unit will be self-contained, fully furnished, and feature a light-filled living and dining area, modern kitchen, bedroom with ensuite, an internal laundry, and screened veranda.

The accommodation complex will be two storeys with six units on each floor, and will feature a community unit and desk, providing a recreational space for healthcare workers. Secure access to each unit will be provided and there will also be lighting and landscaping around the units.

The prefabricated units were built off-site and modelled on the Key Worker Accommodation Program Prototype Unit completed earlier this year.

Healthcare workers are expected to move into the new accommodation early next year, once installation, connection of services, fencing, landscaping, and furnishing of the new units is completed.

Southern NSW Local Health District is one of three regional local health districts to benefit from a $45.3 million investment to deliver accommodation for health workers under the Key Worker Accommodation Program.

The Minns Labor Government has committed an additional $200.1 million to increase key health worker accommodation across rural, regional and remote areas of NSW.

Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park:

"The availability of new healthcare worker accommodation on-site at Cooma Hospital will be another boost to help recruit and attract health workers to the region.

"One of the unique features of the Cooma key workers accommodation is the communal unit and deck, which will enable those living there to relax and socialise with one another, which will be hugely beneficial for staff who may have relocated for work.

"Recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in rural and regional hospitals if one of our biggest, if not the biggest issue we face, and it's why the Minns Labor Government has committed an additional $200.1 million to increase key health worker accommodation in locations across the state where it is needed most."

Quotes attributable to Member for Monaro, Steve Whan:

"Cooma faces very real housing shortage pressures, over the last decade the affordability of the area has declined. Indeed, one private sector report last week rated Snowy Monaro as being in parts "severely unaffordable". It's been driven by a number of factors including people living in Cooma and working in Canberra and the (welcome) influx of Snowy 2.0 workers.

"That has made it very difficult to attract people to fill much needed positions in our heath workforce, and that's why this key worker accommodation is so important.

"It's been discussed for a while, but I am very pleased that this Government has allocated the resources needed to get design, construction, and installation actually done. Cooma hospital is a vital health facility for our region and ensuring full staffing means addressing all the factors that could help attract and retain staff."