Rockhampton

Rockhampton Hospital

• A new major expansion of the Rockhampton Hospital emergency department has been announced to help tackle ambulance ramping and provide life-saving medical care.
• The expanded emergency department is forecast to be completed by the end of 2027 and will deliver 58 treatment spaces.
• The new purpose-built Rockhampton Hospital Cardiology Inpatient Unit officially opened in March 2026 and doubles capacity from six to 12 beds, with each of the six two-bed bays equipped with an ensuite to improve privacy and comfort for patients.
• The milestone marks the first major stage of the broader cardiac expansion project – including the new Cardiac Hybrid Theatre which reached practical completion in August and an expanded Cardiac Investigations Unit.

Mental Health

• More beds for Rockhampton through a nine-bed expansion of the adult mental health unit.
• The expanded unit provides 32 beds – an increase of nine beds – and features modern patient rooms, collaborative therapy areas, enhanced security, and advanced technology to support clinical services.
• Final commissioning and readiness activities will now occur before patients move into the new facility.
• A new six bed youth Step Up Step Down facility will provide 24/7 care to young people experiencing, or at increased risk of experiencing, acute mental illness episodes, to either step down from hospital treatment or step up into the service.

Future workforce

• Our next generation of healthcare workers will benefit from a new $95 million Queensland Academy of Health Sciences in Rockhampton to fast-track high school students into health careers. The academy in Rockhampton will be delivered in partnership with the Federal Government and is the first of its kind outside of South East Queensland.