<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pitard-group">Pitard Group</a> has officially opened the doors at EVA Elsternwick Village Apartments, delivering a collection of move-in ready residences in one of Melbourne’s most tightly held neighbourhoods.

With only a limited number of residences remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/eva-elsternwick-village-apartments-241-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick-vic-3185">EVA</a> presents a rare opportunity to secure a completed apartment in the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick</a>, situated on the coveted Glen Huntly Road.

Comprising 101 residences across a mid-rise building, EVA offers a mix of spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments. Community feedback on Apartments.com.au consistently highlights the project’s quality finishes and well-resolved floorplan design.

Created in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/via-architects">VIA Architects</a>, the project reflects a design ethos centred on resident experience and contextual sensitivity. Each apartment has been crafted with an emphasis on natural light, practical functionality, and acoustic performance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=93073 project_image_fid=357527]

Interiors channel a subtle Hamptons aesthetic, with engineered timber flooring, high ceilings, and soft, neutral finishes. Kitchens are appointed with ILVE European appliances, shaker-profile cabinetry, and stone benchtops, while bathrooms continue the same refined, understated palette.

Pitard Group, who also delivered the construction through their in-house team, has prioritised acoustic insulation through double glazing and noise-reducing materials - a quality noted by early residents and buyers alike.&nbsp;

Private outdoor space is a hallmark of each apartment, whether in the form of a balcony or sun-filled terrace. Many residences enjoy bay or city views, with floorplans that prioritise indoor-outdoor flow and functional layouts. Thoughtful inclusions such as Euro laundries, study zones, and abundant storage ensure the apartments are equally suited to downsizers and professionals seeking quality and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=93073 project_image_fid=357526]

EVA’s amenity offering extends beyond the apartments. A rooftop terrace, complete with in-built BBQs and panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne skyline, invites residents to relax or entertain in style.&nbsp;

A fifth-floor residents lounge, with north-eastern orientation and floor-to-ceiling glazing, offers an ambient retreat enhanced by kitchen and bathroom facilities.&nbsp;

Ground-floor retail and dual lifts add further convenience, while basement car parking with secure storage rounds out the amenity offering.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=93073 project_image_fid=357529]

As a move-in ready address, EVA also benefits from its exceptional location. Just 130 metres from Elsternwick Station and within walking distance of tram and bus links, it places residents minutes from the CBD and the bay.&nbsp;

The surrounding neighbourhood is a cultural and culinary hub, with institutions like Attica and Bang Bang nearby, as well as daily essentials within easy reach.&nbsp;

Green spaces including Elsternwick Park and Rippon Lea Estate offer a sense of retreat, while top-tier schools and health services add to the suburb’s appeal.&nbsp;

Completed and ready to move in, EVA Elsternwick Village Apartments offers two-bedroom residences from $899,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=93073]

Staff Writer

Inside EVA: Pitard Group’s completed Elsternwick apartments

Longstanding local builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> has broken ground on its flagship Newcastle West development, ERA,&nbsp;signalling a significant step forward for what will become the city’s tallest residential address.&nbsp;

The milestone marks the beginning of construction on the 266-apartment project, which GWH describes as a defining moment in its continued growth across the region.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> has been more than two years in planning, shaped through collaboration with financier Qualitas and its design project partners from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">FK Australia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/oculus">OCULUS</a>.

Before the first sod was turned, over 50 per cent of the building has been snapped up,&nbsp;a sign of buyer confidence in both the development itself and inner-city Newcastle more broadly.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351103]

Positioned on Bull Street in Newcastle West, the dual-tower project will introduce 266 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, supported by more than 2,000 sqm of resident amenity including a podium pool deck, gym, sauna, cinema room and two rooftop terraces with harbour and ocean views.

Designed by FK Australia, ERA aims to set a new benchmark for urban living in Newcastle. The architecture positions the towers as a new marker on the city skyline, while the interiors emphasise daylight, generous glazing and modern finishes. Large balconies, thoughtful storage and contemporary kitchens cater to the growing owner-occupier demand in the CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

GWH says ERA represents “continued momentum for GWH, continued investment in our region, and continued delivery of projects that raise the benchmark for quality and liveability.”&nbsp;

ERA’s location in the city’s west end, within walking distance of the harbour, the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle dining precinct and the University of Newcastle’s city campus, positions it well for professionals, downsizers and investors seeking both connection and long-term value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351106]

The developer will also construct the project, supported by the Hunter Construction Group, adding an additional layer of certainty for purchasers.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/building-from-the-ground-up-gwh-takes-fully-integrated-development-model-to-new-heights">Building from the ground up: GWH takes fully-integrated development model to new heights</a>

Buyers will also be buoyed with the fact GWH has taken out the&nbsp;coveted 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy on ERA, one of the only new developments under construction in the region with the new cover.

Offered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/resilience-latent-defects-insurance">Resilience Insurance</a>, LDI is a first-right insurance product that protects purchasers from structural or waterproofing defects within the first 10 years after completion. Geron Property's adoption of the policy aligns with broader industry movement toward more rigorous assurances and supports buyer expectations around long-term asset performance.

With construction now officially underway and pre-construction pricing still available, the East Tower release offers a selection of remaining two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $980,000 to $2.56 million.&nbsp;

Completion is anticipated for early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

GWH commences construction at ERA Newcastle, the city's tallest two buildings

Construction at Megara's new North Fremantle apartment development,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/serai-north-fremantle-21-mccabe-street-north-fremantle-wa-6159">Serai</a>, has reached a new milestone.

Buyers now have a chance to walk through a completed apartment, ahead of construction completion in early 2026.

The update marks a significant step for the 98-residence development on McCabe Street, where remaining apartments and townhomes continue to be secured by buyers seeking a low maintenance, lock-and-leave lifestyle, especially those seeking an ocean or river view with only a few of those apartments left.

Demand has remained steady among buyers living within 10 to 15 kilometres of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-fremantle-wa-6159">North Fremantle</a>, largely long-term locals looking to transition from family homes without compromising on space, privacy or outlook.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=186202]

A completed three-bedroom apartment now offers the clearest preview yet of Serai’s interiors, river views and layout efficiency, with buyers responding strongly to its level of finish and indoor–outdoor connection.&nbsp;

“Many have commented on the quality of the fittings and the spaciousness of the living areas,” Megara's Stephen Vitale noted.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/megara">Megara</a>’s decision to pursue the elevated <a>North Fremantle</a> site followed two years of targeted acquisition work. Perched between the river and the ocean, the position was selected for its panoramic views and proximity to dining, boutique retail and transport connections.&nbsp;

“This exceptional location was meticulously chosen for its unrivalled outlooks and its access to the lifestyle that defines the area,” Megara Director Jamie Clarke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=186197]

The brief to architect Felipe Soto centred on expressing those views through a sculptural building form, a direction influenced by the Amalfi Coast and the local coastal landscape.&nbsp;

The project comprises 87 apartments and 11 townhouses, with one-bedroom residences already sold out and only limited two-bedroom layouts remaining. Three-bedroom apartments start from $1.995 million, townhouses from $2.75 million, and penthouses from $3.95 million.&nbsp;

Buyers are also moving to secure residences ahead of the government’s 37.5 per cent stamp-duty concession (capped at $50,000), which applies for eligible purchases within the timeframe.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=186198]

Amenity remains a key differentiator at Serai and a consistent point of discussion among those comparing local options.

Health and lifestyle-focused spaces, including a gym and yoga studio, sauna and steam room, heated pool with cabanas, and a fire-pit lounge, are complemented by an outdoor cinema, games room, dining spaces and a maker’s studio. Secure bike and watercraft storage, washdown areas and EV charging cater to the active coastal lifestyle that defines North Fremantle living.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=186200]

For many purchasers, the combination of design, amenity and early delivery has been decisive.

“People are purchasing at Serai for the river and ocean views, the prime location within close proximity to the beach, and because they don’t have to wait,” Vitale added, noting that move-in is now less than a year away.&nbsp;

As Megara continues construction toward completion, the opening of the finished apartment provides prospective buyers with a tangible view of life at Serai, clarity that is proving influential in a market where quality, certainty and lifestyle alignment are driving decisions.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110291]

Megara releases first completed residence at Serai, North Fremantle as project tracks toward early 2026 completion

Macquarie York has appointed Roberts Co to as the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) partner for its upcoming new Surfers Paradise apartment development, Sunset Residence.

Located at 50 Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Residences is a riverfront, design-driven tower set to elevate one of Surfers Paradise’s most rapidly transforming enclaves. The refined scheme, designed by Plus Studio, features 72 luxury residences, enhanced amenity, and improved connectivity to the Nerang &nbsp;River.&nbsp;

As ECI partner, Roberts Co is working closely with Macquarie York and the design team to optimise buildability, program, staging and procurement strategies ahead of construction commencement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Macquarie York Director, Roy Skaf, said Roberts Co’s early engagement will help ensure the landmark development realises its full potential.&nbsp;

“Sunset Residences is a signature project for Macquarie York, a chance to define a new level of riverfront living in Surfers Paradise," Skaf said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Roberts Co appointed Early Contractor Involvement partner for Macquarie York’s Sunset Residences on the Gold Coast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dd22a45-168b-4e00-b6d2-4e7310b02084" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/SunsetResidences_Interior.jpg?VersionId=NAWvGq7l6BFB4vvh6u0xXWWISboHTi6q" />

“Partnering with Roberts Co under an ECI arrangement gives us the confidence that design decisions, construction methodology and programming are being rigorously considered from day one. Their collaborative mindset and technical capability are exactly what a project of this quality demands.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Construction is expected to commence following completion of the ECI phase and final design resolution.

Sunset Residences is one of three projects Macquarie York has locally. They have Rana Palm Beach, 60 apartments on Twenty Third Avenue, and Azariah, just nine residences on the dress circle Jefferson Lane, also in Palm Beach.

Macquarie York appoints Roberts & Co for early works agreement at Sunset Residences

Few developers in South East Queensland have shaped the new development apartment market as profoundly, or as consistently, as Mosaic Property Group. In 2025, the business delivered another very strong year across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, building on the foundations of nearly two decades of discipline, long-term thinking, and relentless refinement of its craft.

Their continued success is driven from the top. Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan, very much credits the success to a workforce of “massive grafters”, and a culture where complacency simply doesn’t exist.

“In every part of our business, we’re constantly pushing to get better” Monahan told <a href="http://apartments.com.au">Apartments.com.au</a>. “We never rest on our laurels.”

The company’s growth continued its upward trajectory, with the developer completing six luxury projects in 2025, representing approximately $850 million in value and delivering 536 new luxury homes. Mosaic also sold over $1.4 billion worth a new luxury apartments at an average price point of $3.41 million in 2025.

Heading into 2026, they have a further five projects under construction and an immediate pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, representing just shy of $2 billion in value. I spoke with Brook about everything from the evolution of Mosaic’s business to the fundamentals driving the SEQ property market.

<img alt="Brook" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea443354-6099-40c2-970b-06cab2e842d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-12%20at%2010.21.14%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=anKZRLE61XX0opq0PCZMDsmwVWqNF.Od" />

<hr />
<h2>A market defined by two forces</h2>

The fundamental drivers of SEQ’s housing dynamics in 2025 are straightforward: a generational transfer of wealth on a scale Australia has never seen, and migration numbers that continue to exceed expectations.

“An enormous amount of wealth will move through the next decade,” Monahan explains. “That wave isn’t going anywhere.” Simultaneously, “you can’t run migration at the numbers we’re seeing, while also having a generational shift of wealth from boomers, and not expect demand to remain strong. People move here, they bring money, they want to buy a home and create a future.”

While top-end product in some pockets has softened from the frenzy of 18 months ago, Monahan believes&nbsp; the wave will remain “pretty strong,” especially for developers with brand trust and a long-term track record.&nbsp;

“The $4 million to $10 million segment remains fairly robust, but buyers are much more educated now than they’ve ever been. They have access to information and they’re smart people. They’re generally not&nbsp; willing to trust a new entrant asking $15 million with no track record.”

This heightened consumer discernment, he notes, is reshaping how premium projects are evaluated by developers.

<hr />
<h2>The problem behind the crisis</h2>

Despite strong demand, SEQ’s housing market remains severely undersupplied. Brisbane needs around 12,000 new homes per year, yet delivered only 4,000 last year. The Gold Coast requires around 6500 but delivered less than half of that. The backlog is massive.

“We’re probably 54,000 homes short in the next five years in Brisbane alone,” Monahan estimates. “Maybe 100,000 across the whole of Queensland.”

The core issue however isn’t planning.&nbsp;

“The planning environment is actually super supportive right now,” he says. “Approvals aren’t the problem. It’s turning approvals into real supply.”

The gap between development approvals and project starts has widened significantly as construction costs escalate, contractors disappear from the market, and inexperienced developers try, and fail, to bring projects to life.

“A development application (DA) is only part of the equation, it means little without the ability to deliver,” he explains. “Many applicants underestimate the complexity involved. It’s not just about securing a site; you need the right formula and all the right ingredients to make it work. Without that, the end result will fall short of expectations and increase the risk of project failure.

The result is market distortion: sites tied up by entrants who lack experience, capital certainty, construction understanding, or a realistic feasibility model. “It’s not good for the industry,” he says. “You get more and more mooted supply but very little real delivery.”

<hr />
<h2>Construction realities and the coming resource crunch</h2>

Beyond development capability, SEQ faces macroeconomic pressures. Over $7 billion must be delivered by late 2031 just for Olympics-related obligations. Add $18 billion in hospital and health infrastructure, and the region faces a “resource drain” Monahan believes will reshape delivery timelines and construction pricing for years.

“It will ultimately be great for SEQ for the next 20 years,” he says. “But it puts enormous pressure on an already chronically undersupplied housing market.”

This pressure will inevitably influence pricing. Double-digit growth cannot continue indefinitely, but Monahan sees no path to meaningfully lower construction costs. “It’s impossible to meet demand at a cheaper price point given labour capability and resource competition,” he says.

“Those who can afford it will keep paying more and the rest are fighting to get a foothold. That’s why the market keeps creeping upward.”

<hr />
<h2>Mosaic’s disciplined blueprint: Only A-Grade, iconic, irreplicable</h2>

With a long track record of delivery and in-house construction expertise, Mosaic works backwards from the cost of delivery to determine the right price for a site—a disciplined acquisition model they’ve adhered to from day one.

&nbsp;“We’re never out of the market,” Monahan says. “But we’re extremely disciplined. We don’t buy B+ sites. We won’t buy run-of-the-mill locations. Ever. That’s not our brand and it’s also not economically viable for us in most instances.”

Mosaic’s nine current developments illustrate this discipline:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-by-mosaic-4-rosewood-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lily</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/marella-146-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">Marella</a>, Broadbeach: Two 30-storey buildings with permanently protected views over parkland, beach and coastline 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/isabel-by-mosaic-96-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Isabel</a> and, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/josephine-by-mosaic-166-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Jospehine</a>, Burleigh Heads – all “masterpiece” sites on the Esplanade with enduring view corridors of beach, water and coastline in the heart of Burleigh 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sophia-by-mosaic-1357-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Sophia</a>, Palm Beach- directly on the dunes of the most highly sought after stretch of northern Palm Beach beachfront real estate 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline</a>, Broadbeach – “180 degrees beach, water and coastline views, great walk score” 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford</a>, Kangaroo Point – a site Mosaic first identified in 2016. Amazing walk score, views and inner city connectivity 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>, Kangaroo Point – in between the Gabba and the Kangaroo Point peninsula with amazing walk score and uninterrupted and expansive northern city and river views 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1">South Brisbane (launching 2026) – core inner-city Brisbane river waterfront site on the northern end of the peninsula with amazing river connection and permanent river and city views, amazing walk score</li>
</ul>

“Nothing we buy is guesswork,” Monahan says. “It’s always an iconic suburb where people genuinely want to live, with strong connections to water, lifestyle, amenity, or permanent view corridors.”

“Mosaic’s two most recent Brisbane acquisitions were several years in the making. The Bedford, launched on the prestigious Kangaroo Point peninsula and achieving 90 per cent sales within months was a site they identified back in 2016. The second, which is the yet to be released at 91 Montague Road in South Brisbane, has been on Mosaic’s radar since 2017.&nbsp;

Arguably one of Brisbane’s last great inner city riverfront sites, it sits within the city’s most dynamic cultural hub, offering unrivalled connectivity, lifestyle, and amenity, and standing as a landmark opportunity to define the next era of riverfront living.

“We know exactly what is and isn’t a Mosaic project. Strategic site selection is the critical foundation of everything we do. We’re always assessing opportunities, but based on our two most recent Brisbane acquisitions, it’s entirely possible that the sites we’re looking at today won’t transact for several years. That discipline is what ensures every project meets our exacting standards.”

<hr />
<h2>The Mosaic engine: Consistency, capability, and relentless execution</h2>

What separates Mosaic in a crowded field is not the ability to attract capital or buy a site, but the ability to deliver highly complex high end buildings, whether that is 37 storeys or 18 storeys, repeatedly and consistently.

“These buildings are inherently complex to deliver well,” Monahan says. “It takes a long time to know exactly what the market wants, how to deliver it, how to secure the right contractors and consultants, and how to align the product with what the market is actually willing to pay and can afford.”

With so many contractors exiting the market in recent years, genuine delivery capability has become increasingly rare. Monahan welcomes credible new entrants but cautions that underestimating the complexity of luxury development can lead to poor outcomes.&nbsp;

“It’s easy to assume high-end projects equal high returns, but without the right experience, track record, and capability, it’s a tough road. Attracting capital is one thing—delivering on expectations is another, and when that doesn’t happen, it impacts the entire market.’”

<hr />
<h2>Looking to 2026: A pipeline built on patience and precision</h2>

As 2025 draws to a close, Mosaic stands at the strongest point in its history. Since 2012 alone, the company has completed more than $2 billion in projects and is set to deliver another $2 billion worth of developments, hundreds of luxury apartments, all bearing Mosaic’s hallmark of impeccable delivery.&nbsp;

Next to launch are two standout projects: Josephine, an exclusive collection of just 30 half- and full-floor ultra-luxury residences coming soon to the Burleigh Heads beachfront, and a landmark tower on Montague Road in South Brisbane, comprising 204 apartments in the heart of the city’s cultural hub on the banks of the Brisbane river.

“We never arrive. There’s no finish line for us,” said Monahan. “Our focus is on continuing to evolve in the luxury space, creating incredible, design- and lifestyle-led properties that people love living in and that stand the test of time.” 
&nbsp;

What’s ahead for South East Queensland’s next development wave: Five minutes with Mosaic’s Brook Monahan

Healthcare

<html><body>
In the past, when you needed chemotherapy or intravenous (in-the-vein) treatments such as antibiotics or hydration, you needed to be admitted to hospital.
These days, it’s possible to have such treatments in the comfort of your home, with nursing or other clinical supports.
Public hospital-in-the-home and other hospital-substitute programs are burgeoning in the public sector, including in <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/193_10_151110/mon10237_fm.pdf" target="_blank">Victoria</a>, <a href="https://www.silverchain.org.au/wa/" target="_blank">Western Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Performance/Pages/HITH.aspx" target="_blank">New South Wales</a>. These programs now provide the equivalent of hundreds of hospital beds.
Having treatment at home is more convenient for patients, reduces the demand on hospitals, and <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007491.pub2/abstract" target="_blank">cuts costs for the health system</a>.
But if you have private health insurance and want to access these services via a private hospital, it’s often not possible. This needs to change.
<h2>What’s the problem?</h2>
Private health insurers are tightly regulated. If you have a top “gold” package, for example, the insurer must pay for all hospital services that attract a government Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) payment, other than cosmetic surgery.
But insurers are currently <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/private-health-insurance/about-private-health-insurance/how-does-private-health-insurance-work" target="_blank">not allowed to cover</a> care provided outside of hospitals, except in very limited circumstances.
Insurers are allowed to cover eligible home-based programs developed by private hospitals. But they get to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to cover these programs. And each insurer makes a separate decision for each program.
This means private hospitals must negotiate with each private health insurer for each separate program, for each contract period. This makes it almost impossible for private hospitals to develop sustainable business cases for their programs.
The upshot is patients often miss out on the convenience of having hospital-type services in their home, and instead may face prolonged hospital stays.
The red tape needs to be untangled to make it easier for private hospitals and doctors to run these programs and for insurers to pay for them.
<h2>What kind of care can you get at home?</h2>
Few hospital-type services are delivered at home under the current system for privately insured patients: they account for about <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/quarterly-private-health-insurance-statistics" target="_blank">4% of hospital treatments paid in 2018-19</a>.
<a href="https://www.cabrini.com.au/patients-and-families/services/directory/hospital-in-the-home" target="_blank">Common hospital-type treatments</a> in the home include IV therapy and wound care.
A number of insurers are conducting pilot programs for out-of-hospital rehabilitation after strokes, <a href="https://www.medibank.com.au/livebetter/my-medibank/using-your-cover/rehab-in-the-home/" target="_blank">joint replacements</a> or an accident; chemotherapy; kidney dialysis; and <a href="https://media.bupa.com.au/palliative-care-pilot-recognised/" target="_blank">palliative care</a>, so people can die more comfortably in their own homes.
Untangling red tape would also allow private hospitals to offer more “<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3702" target="_blank">prehabilitation</a>” programs to prepare people for elective surgery, and to offer <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/209/5/predictors-inpatient-rehabilitation-after-total-knee-replacement-analysis" target="_blank">rehabilitation programs in people’s homes</a> after surgery.
Theoretically, hospital-substitute programs at home could expand to other treatment areas such as obstetrics to have your baby at home. Or for <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/05EB674588C31EB7CA257E28001F1BBD/%24File/Guidelines%20for%20Determining%20Benefits%202015%20Edition-Checked.pdf" target="_blank">mental health</a> treatment, which may be more efficiently provided outside hospital.
But legislative restrictions (designed to stop insurers covering general practice) have limited the expansion of these programs.
<h2>How should the system work?</h2>
Regulation should support people’s access to the most efficient form of care. And private hospitals should have more certainty about how they’ll be reimbursed when they invest in alternatives to hospital inpatient care.
Rather than each insurer deciding whether they should fund good programs, the independent body which assesses and approves the public-sector equivalent of home-based care – the <a href="https://www.ihpa.gov.au/" target="_blank">Independent Hospital Pricing Authority</a> – should do the same for the private sector.
If a program has been approved by the authority, then private health insurers should be required to pay for it.
Specialist doctors, such as oncologists, should also be able to establish hospital substitute programs and have them approved for funding by private health insurers.
All of this is about improving quality and access to care, while at the same time reducing costs. It should be easier for private health insurers to pay for better alternatives to hospital care, where they can deliver the same treatment with the same or better outcomes, <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007491.pub2/abstract" target="_blank">but at a lower cost</a>.
It is also about providing good alternatives to private hospital care, increasing competition in the health system, and reducing the number of unnecessary hospital admissions.
There are big opportunities for system-wide efficiencies in the private sector by shifting care from inpatient to outpatient settings – particularly for rehabilitation, psychiatric care, <a href="https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/33/intravitreal-injections" target="_blank">eye injections</a> for retinal conditions, and outpatient <a href="https://www.veinhealth.com.au/ambulatory-phlebectomy/" target="_blank">vein surgery</a>.
The public sector has already expanded its alternatives to hospital inpatient care. It’s time for the private system to do the same.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-duckett-10730" target="_blank">Stephen Duckett</a>, Director, Health Program, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168" target="_blank">Grattan Institute</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/private-health-insurers-should-start-paying-for-hospital-type-care-at-home-126345" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Private health insurers should start paying for hospital-type care at home

<html><body>
Chemistworks, Myhealth medical centre, and Anytime Fitness have been announced as the three new tenants at Western Sydney's Ed.Square town centre.
The tenancies are apparently part of the planned community’s sustained initiative to attract health services.
It has also confirmed that a massage and acupuncture specialist, sporting goods retailer, pathologist, and childcare operator will be among the first batch of tenants, while a radiologist is currently being sought out for the project.
The Frasers Property group collaborating with HDR, GroupGSA and HASSELL are behind the development, which when completed, is expected to incorporate 1,884 homes in a mix of apartments, terraces and ‘mews’-style townhouses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
Stage 1 of Ed.Square Town Centre will comprise approximately 25,000 sqm of retail space, with a Coles supermarket, Liquorland store, and Event Cinemas complex set to be rolled out.
On completion of Stage 2, which will roughly add an additional 15,000 sqm, the development will comprise up to 40,000 sqm of retail space with over 120 shops.
It is expected to open in the second half of 2020.
</body></html>

wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

New tenants announced for Western Sydney's Ed.Square 

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
The poorer people are, the <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44289/9789241563970_eng.pdf?sequence=1" target="_blank">higher their chances</a> of contending with domestic violence, crime, social conflict, homelessness and unemployment.
All these factors contribute to increased levels of psychological distress, which is associated with common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0004867415615948" target="_blank">our research</a>, of adults who recorded “very high” levels of psychological distress on what’s called the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, more than three times as many (30%) came from the most socioeconomically disadvantaged fifth of Australian areas than from the most affluent fifth (9%).
Along with where you live, personal income is an important influence: among the poorest fifth of Australians, one in four people reported “high” or “very high” psychological distress when compared to about <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00536/full" target="_blank">one in 20 people in the richest fifth</a>.
To begin to tackle this problem, we need to see more equitable distribution of mental health care; that is, delivery of care proportionate to need. As it currently stands, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups very often <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-charts-on-why-rates-of-mental-illness-arent-going-down-despite-higher-spending-97534" target="_blank">do not get optimal mental health care</a>.
<hr>
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/282184/original/file-20190702-28321-1bgx6ot.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
<a class="source" href="https://theconversation.com/three-charts-on-why-rates-of-mental-illness-arent-going-down-despite-higher-spending-97534" target="_blank">This chart first appeared in an article published on The Conversation in 2018.</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-ND</a>
<hr>
The <a href="https://rcvmhs.vic.gov.au" target="_blank">Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System</a> has begun its public hearings this week in Melbourne. Hopefully, it will provoke improved collaboration between state and Commonwealth services, enabling better access to mental health services for those who need it most.
Socioeconomic disadvantage affects mental health from birth
Unintended pregnancy, being younger, experiencing intimate partner violence and having insufficient emotional and practical support <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3302553/pdf/BLT.11.091850.pdf" target="_blank">can lead to mental disorders</a>, including depression, among pregnant women and new mothers.
Babies of depressed mothers are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150769/pdf/BLT.11.088187.pdf" target="_blank">often underweight</a>, a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2722846" target="_blank">risk factor for later depression</a>.
One study showed the mental health of four-year-old children is affected by factors including <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0187974" target="_blank">family income, maternal education and neighbourhood disadvantage</a>. The researchers followed children in this study until the age of 14 to 15 and found the effects persisted.
Children from low socioeconomic backgrounds are also more likely to do poorly in school, and <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/relationship-between-exclusion-from-school-and-mental-health-a-secondary-analysis-of-the-british-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-surveys-2004-and-2007/C01898F768A7C47FB9A1F2F894B22A85">are more likely to be suspended or expelled</a>.
Financial difficulties have been highlighted as <a href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/74395807.pdf" target="_blank">an important determinant of mental health for university students</a>, too.
Adults with interpersonal, employment or financial stresses experience <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031210-101146" target="_blank">higher levels of psychological distress</a>.
Job loss is associated with mental health problems, and this association becomes more pronounced <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031210-101146" target="_blank">with long-term unemployment</a>.
Those on welfare support have a <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/71/12/1198.long" target="_blank">higher risk of mental disorders</a>.
Poor people can’t access the best treatment
People in countries with <a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level" target="_blank">greater socioeconomic inequality</a> are more likely to have poor mental health than people in more equal societies. Australia is a high-income country, but there remains <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/inequality/" target="_blank">a significant gap</a> between the richest in our society and the poorest.
Many health, educational, transport, housing, welfare and fiscal policy shifts could improve mental health in communities by addressing socioeconomic disadvantage and its impacts across the lifespan.
But while this issue persists, we need to look at what people from disadvantaged groups with mental illness are getting by way of treatment.
Most commonly, people with depression and other mental disorders will be prescribed medications, and/or receive “talking therapies” which might include sessions with a psychologist or other mental health professionals.
Importantly, evidence suggests antidepressants alone are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wps.20089" target="_blank">less likely to be effective</a> than a combination of antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy. So where antidepressant medication is recommended, <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/global-mental-health" target="_blank">psychological therapies should be available too</a>.
But as we know, many Australians with common mental disorders such as depression live in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. Here, despite the greater need, <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-charts-on-why-rates-of-mental-illness-arent-going-down-despite-higher-spending-97534" target="_blank">fewer psychological treatment services are delivered</a>. Location of therapists and out-of-pocket costs can both act as barriers to accessing these services.
Ultimately, while poor people generally need mental health services more, rich people tend to access them at a much higher rate. So poorer people often receive only antidepressants, and alone, these may have only a modest effect, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0004867419857821?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed" target="_blank">placing them on the back foot in terms of their recovery</a>.
Much of this care provision rests with Commonwealth Medicare-funded services. State services, meanwhile, struggle to respond to needs left unmet.
The Commonwealth and the states must work together
Although spending on mental health has increased in recent years, so too has the system’s complexity and fragmentation. Delivering equitable mental health care for Australians is complicated by the federal structure and divisions of responsibilities.
For private provider services, there is a need for incentive structures that secure the delivery of free or lower-cost services for the people and in the places where there is greatest need.
The Victorian royal commission into mental health is asking about <a href="https://rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/submissions" target="_blank">drivers of poor community mental health</a>, and flagging the importance of community and economic participation in improving mental health.
Within state mental health policy, funding models should ensure that while all communities get a decent level of mental health care, there is more service availability in areas and communities we know have higher rates of mental health problems.
We’d also be well-served by adopting newer strategies to facilitate access. For example, some people in difficult circumstances may nevertheless have broadband internet sufficient for video links. Getting psychological therapies into people’s homes through this route may be one way around other access problems.
The Victorian royal commission should propose making state funding distribution fairer, but cannot fix these problems alone.
In a recent positive step, the Commonwealth and state governments have <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-fifth-national-mental-health-plan" target="_blank">signed up</a> to a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-health-intergrated-reg-planning" target="_blank">set of tasks aiming to move towards</a> better integrated mental health care planning.
The challenge for governments now is to cooperate with and support mental health service providers to ensure these services are better connected with each other, and importantly, more fairly and consistently delivered in relation to need.

Graham Meadows, Professor of Adult Psychiatry, Monash University
Anthony Cichello, Clinical Psychologist, Melbourne, and Adjunct Research Fellow, Monash University 
Anton Neville Isaacs, Senior Lecturer, Monash School of Rural Health, Monash University
Frances Shawyer, Research Fellow, Monash University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-its-easier-to-get-meds-than-therapy-how-poverty-makes-it-hard-to-escape-mental-illness-114505" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Submissions for the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System <a href="https://rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/submissions" target="_blank">are open</a> until July 5.
If this article has raised issues for you or you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/114505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
</body></html>

How poverty makes it hard to escape mental illnes

<html><body>
A private investment group has listed one of the first premium grade healthcare offerings in Mornington in two years.  
Recently refurbished, the property sits within the centre of the Mornington healthcare hub. 
CBRE agents Josh Twelftree, Sandro Peluso, Jimmy Tat and Marcello Caspani-Muto have been exclusively appointed to negotiate the sale, following a generous track record of success along Melbourne’s coast. 
Mr Twelftree noted, “The property’s Beleura Hill medical precinct location is a relatively tightly held pocket in the area.” 
“Less than 1km from Beleura Private Hospital, Bays Hospital and Mornington Centre – Peninsula Health, it’s a real medical hotspot – benefiting from strong cross flow demand in the region.”  
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/20/1050_Nepean_LifeStyle036.jpg" alt="">
The 635 sqm landholding features a medium-term lease to beauty clinician Jo Hannah of Hannah Aesthetics, former CEO of ASX listed Total Face Group, offering a passing income of $90,000 per annum. 
1050 Nepean Highway will be sold via public auction on July 13.
</body></html>

Rare refurbished medical property offered in Mornington

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
The federal government has just promised to increase spending on public hospitals from A$21.7 billion in 2018 to A$26.2 billion by 2023. Expect more hospital promises in coming weeks. There is a long history of parties at both state and federal level pledging new hospitals during election campaigns.
Building new hospitals may at first seem sensible, especially as the population grows. But it will not cure the health system’s most pressing ailment. Instead, <a href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">our research</a> shows it’s more effective to focus health policy on people and prevention.
A problem of demand
It is true that hospitals in Australia aren’t keeping up with demand. Though supply of beds has increased, the population is growing while also ageing. This is increasing demand for all health-care services, including hospital beds.
The following graph shows the change in the number of beds per 1,000 people in all states and territories since 2006. Only in the Australian Capital Territory has the ratio improved.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264557/original/file-20190319-28496-ii13jb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264557/original/file-20190319-28496-ii13jb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Available hospital beds per 1000 population, by region, public hospitals (including psychiatric). <a class="source" href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre | AIHA (various years), Australian hospital statistics, Health Services Series; AIHW (various years), hospital resources' Australian hospital statistics, Health services series.</a>
State and federal governments thus feel a lot of pressure to spend more on hospitals. In 2016-2017 it was <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2016-17/contents/summary" target="_blank">$69 billion</a> Australia-wide – $2 billion more than the previous year. The following graph shows expenditure on public hospitals by state over the past two decades.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264579/original/file-20190319-60956-6i0qhw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264579/original/file-20190319-60956-6i0qhw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Public hospital spending in each state since 1996. <a class="source" href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2016-17/contents/data-visualisation" target="_blank">Australian Institute of Health and Welfare</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Queensland shows the greatest growth over the past two decades. In Western Australia, where we did our research, the proportion of government health budgets spent on public hospitals rose from 26% to 31%.
Preventive measures
We looked at why the hospital care is growing faster than the overall health sector, and what can be done about this.
Our conclusion: there needs to be more focus on the “unsexy” parts of the health-care system that treat people before they get sick enough to need a hospital. Prevention is cheaper and more effective than cure.
For example, it is estimated that A$9 million invested in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18719075" target="_blank">anti-smoking campaigns</a> between 1997 and 2007 saved A$740 million on smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer.
Yet our breakdown of health spending in Western Australia shows just 1.7% is spent on preventive measures – called “public health spending”. Australia-wide the average percentage is even less, according to <a href="http://fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Preventive-health-How-much-does-Australia-spend-and-is-it-enough_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">research</a> from La Trobe University and the Australian Preventative Partnership Centre.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264563/original/file-20190319-28468-c37pcs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264563/original/file-20190319-28468-c37pcs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Breakdown of health care spending in WA. <a class="source" href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre | Authors’ calculations from AIHW health expenditure database.</a>
Early medical attention is another way to reduce the need for hospitals. In analysing data from around Western Australia between 2009 and 2016, we generally found that increasing visits to general practitioners reduced the incidence of avoidable deaths (deaths that could have been avoided with better treatment or prevention).
People-centred approach
Limited prevention and early detection comes back to the way we fund health care. Australia’s health system is funded using a “<a href="https://beta.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australias-health-landscape-infographic" target="_blank">hospital-centred</a>” rather than “people-centred” approach.
This means hospitals are funded by the number of patients cared for and the type of procedures done. Hospital and GPs are funded separately. There is no incentive to cooperate and keep people out of hospitals.
A people-centred approach, on the other hand, would give funds based on patients’ health outcomes, rather than their particular treatments. GPs would be paid to manage patients, with the goal of keeping them out of hospital.
This system would particularly help people living in remote and rural regions, including Indigenous Australians, who are disadvantaged by the relative lack of resources being spent on local and preventive health.
The Canterbury model
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/268298/original/file-20190409-2905-15ie8ak.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The Canterbury region in New Zealand. <a class="source" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Position_of_Canterbury_Region.png" target="_blank">English Wiki</a>
The best example of such a people-centred system is New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.cdhb.health.nz/about-us/key-projects-and-initiatives/international-report-encourages-health-systems-to-learn-from-canterbury-dhb/" target="_blank">Canterbury model</a> – named after the Canterbury region on New Zealand’s South Island (which includes Christchurch).
Instead of separate budgets for GPs and hospitals, Canterbury created a “one system, one budget” approach. This led to new programs that weren’t possible under the old system. An example is <a href="https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/quest-integrated-health-and-social-care" target="_blank">Healthpathways</a>, which brought together GPs and specialists to decide on treatement programs for individual patients.
In working to make hospitals the last resort, more time and resources have gone to GPs. There are now more 24-hour clinics, for example, making it easier to get treated by a local doctor when needed.
A <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/5/e010709" target="_blank">study of the Canterbury system</a> showed that between 2007 and 2014 the number of people being hospitalised declined from 6.59 to 5.83 per 1,000. While an 11% decline may not seem huge, it represents a significant financial saving, given the high cost of hospitalisation.
Canterbury shows what can be achieved by rethinking how health care funding works. Australia has the opportunity to reimagine its health care system in a similar way.
New hospitals get a lot of attention. Politicians can point to them as concrete evidence they’re doing something to help. But emphasising hospitals as the most important part of the health system comes at a cost, and will only get more so as the population ages.
It’s time to discuss alternatives. Putting more resources into prevention and people is the right medicine for our future health needs.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/111084/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Steven Bond-Smith, Research Fellow, Bankwest-Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University
Alan Duncan, Director, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and Bankwest Research Chair in Economic Policy, Curtin University
Astghik Mavisakalyan, Associate professor, Curtin University
Yashar Tarverdi, Research fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-hospitals-will-not-cure-australias-ailing-health-care-system-theres-a-more-efficient-way-111084">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Healthcare

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Healthcare

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.