Budget investment will support timely, high-quality care for Canberrans.
03 June 2026
In brief
- The Budget will fund initiatives for Canberra's health services and staff.
- These include new and expanded critical and specialist services.
- There are also initiatives to support the health workforce.
- There is also funding to progress construction on the Northside Hospital Project.
The 2026-27 ACT Budget will fund a range of initiatives to boost public health services and support the Territory’s health workforce. These will help:
- improve Canberrans’ access to health care
- strengthen health services in the ACT
- support staff wellbeing and development
- keep pace with Canberra’s growth
- drive better health outcomes.
Expanding Canberra’s critical and specialist services allows the health system to better meet community needs.
Canberrans will have easier access to high‑quality care when and where they need it.
A new Acute Palliative Care Unit
The Budget will fund the operation of Canberra Hospital’s new Acute Palliative Care Unit.
This investment will initially fund eight beds. There is capacity to expand to 12 beds over time.
Construction is underway and expected to be finished in December 2026.
The unit is designed to be a culturally safe and trauma-informed space. It will provide support to patients and their families when they need it most.
Boosting breast cancer services
Budget funding will support new services at North Canberra Hospital for people at higher risk of breast cancer.
The investment will assist with early detection through better access to:
- specialised life-saving screening
- treatment
- support services.
Paediatric fracture and orthopaedic services
There will be funding to expand the Paediatric Fracture Clinic at Canberra Hospital. A dedicated paediatric orthopaedic service will also be established.
These services will improve care closer to home for children with bone and soft tissue conditions.
Specialist services for people with lung cancer
The Budget will support increased lung cancer specialist services. These include:
- the rapid access lung cancer clinic
- supporting delivery of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
- earlier detection.
Supporting our health workforce
The Budget invests in initiatives to support, grow and retain Canberra’s health workforce.
It will ensure the continuation of wellbeing and workforce programs for Junior Medical Officers. It will also support pastoral care, wellbeing and career development – and promote Canberra Health Services as an employer of choice.
These initiatives are part of a broader investment in the ACT’s public hospital and community-based health services and workforce over the next four years.
Together, they aim to ensure all Canberrans receive timely, high-quality care from well-supported staff.
The Northside Hospital Project
The 2026–27 ACT Budget includes funding to progress construction on the new Northside Hospital Project in Bruce.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2032. Canberrans can continue to access North Canberra Hospital while the new hospital is being built.
Once complete, the new seven-storey hospital will feature:
- over 200 adult acute overnight beds
- 14 intensive care beds
- 8 operating theatres
- 2 endoscopy suites
- 8 birth suites
- 63 emergency department treatment spaces, plus dedicated short-stay units for adults and paediatrics
- more outpatient services
- over 700 additional parking spaces.
There will also be upgrades to the intersections connecting Haydon Drive and Mary Potter Circuit, plus a new 100-place childcare centre on site.
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