Fourth-year CQUniversity Australia occupational therapy (OT) students have taken a bold step toward shaping the future of healthcare by presenting a comprehensive design proposal to the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) team behind the new Bundaberg Hospital project.
The proposal, developed as part of the students’ final university assessment, outlined evidence-based recommendations for creating a dementia-friendly environment within the new hospital.
Drawing on the latest research and Dementia Training Australia best-practice principles, the group offered environmental, educational and care recommendations that promote safety, dignity and engagement for people with dementia and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
In addition to the new hospital proposal, a second student group shared insights aimed at improving the existing hospital environment, offering practical strategies to improve current space and care delivery.
Key features of the proposal for the new hospital included:
- environmental design (clear wayfinding systems to reduce confusion and promote independence and sensory-friendly spaces that minimise overstimulation and improve patient outcomes)
- staff training recommendations to support dementia-inclusive care
- a hospital-wide model of care to ensure patients with dementia are appropriately cared for, no matter where they located are in the hospital setting.
CQUniversity OT students Dane Irvine, Tasman Harman, Mikayla Sivyer-Parkinson and Anna Smith said it had been a privilege to work on a real-life landmark project right here in the community.
“Knowing our ideas could help shape a space and make a real difference for families in our area was an incredibly meaningful and rewarding way to finish our degree,” the group said.
“Reviewing academic research and collaborating with the hospital and project teams gave us a glimpse into the real-world challenges and opportunities of inclusive design.
“We also conducted a survey with health professionals outside our region – it was so valuable to reflect on their feedback as we prepare to enter the workforce ourselves.”
WBHHS Project Lead Clinical Services Planning and allied health professional Aimee Smith said she was impressed by the students’ comprehensive and thoughtful approach and the practical insights they’d shared with the team.
“It was encouraging to see how closely the students’ proposal aligns with our vision for creating dementia-friendly environments in the new Bundaberg Hospital,” Aimee said.
“Their insights reinforced our approach and introduced thoughtful suggestions around the design and our models of care that we’re now exploring further.
“Their outreach to health professionals in other Queensland Health facilities outside of our region also brought other valuable perspectives to the table too.
“It’s clear they’ve taken a holistic and collaborative approach to understand what works in dementia care environments, and we’re really grateful for the group generously sharing their hard work with us.”
To read the latest on the new Bundaberg Hospital project or to register to receive updates straight to your inbox, visit www.widebay.health.qld.gov.au/new-bundaberg-hospital.