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Australian Healthcare Design, Construction & Performance Insights
Healthcare performance in 2026 is no longer defined by clinical outcomes alone. For facilities across multiple sectors, from day hospitals, to radiology, and medical specialists, the built environment has become a critical driver of long-term performance.
This article explores the key trends shaping high-performing healthcare facilities in Australia, and how design and construction decisions increasingly shape long-term performance.
Redefining “High Performing” Healthcare Facilities in Australia
Australia continues to perform strongly against international healthcare benchmarks (AIHW; OECD). However, national data also highlights increasing pressure on facility capacity, workforce availability, patient experience and system efficiency.
Rising demand driven by population growth, ageing and chronic disease is placing sustained strain on existing healthcare infrastructure, much of which was designed for outdated models of care.
As a result, high-performing healthcare facilities are now defined by their ability to:
- Support safe and efficient clinical workflows
- Enable workforce sustainability and retention
- Adapt to evolving models of care and technology
- Deliver consistently positive patient experiences
From Interite’s perspective, high performance can be achieved when operational requirements, compliance standards and healthcare facility design are aligned at the start of projects. Having a clear understanding of the needs and goals of a facility from both an operational and compliance perspective consistently reduces downstream redesign, improves efficiency and minimises disruption both during construction and post-occupancy.
Engaging a specialist healthcare design and construction partner with deep sector knowledge and experience is therefore critical to achieving well designed, future-ready healthcare facilities.
Design as an Operational Performance Lever,
Not Just an Aesthetic Decision
AIHW performance reporting consistently links inefficient healthcare layouts with delays, bottlenecks and underutilisation. Poor adjacencies increase staff travel distances, patient wait times and equipment downtime, directly impacting daily capacity and increased operational strain.
By contrast, workflow-driven healthcare facility design improves operational efficiency without increasing staffing or floor area.
Across Interite projects, a consistent performance driver is clear zoning between public, clinical and back-of-house spaces; which is led by our design team alongside insights from key stakeholder workshops and interviews. This supports:
- Infection control and patient privacy
- Efficient staff movement and supervision
- Flexibility as service demand changes
In specialist settings such as radiology facilities, IVF and day hospitals, efficient adjacencies enable higher throughput while maintaining compliance and care quality. A recent project example is Garran Medical Imaging in Canberra, where multiple radiology modalities were integrated within a compact 460m2 footprint. Demonstrating that spatial efficiency and facility performance can be maximised without compromising patient experience.
Workforce Retention Is Now a Design Issue
Workforce sustainability remains one of the most significant risks facing Australian healthcare (AIHW, Health Workforce). Persistent shortages across nursing, allied health, radiology and aged care, combined with rising burnout and turnover, have shifted attention to how the built environment affects staff experience
The built environment plays a direct role in mitigating these pressures. High-performing healthcare facilities enhance staff experience by:
- Reducing unnecessary movement and manual handling through workflow-focused layouts
- Improving access to natural light, acoustic comfort and thoughtfully designed spaces
- Providing dedicated staff respite and recovery areas
- Supporting intuitive, efficient workflows that minimise stress and frustration
We have found projects that prioritise staff amenity, ergonomics and workflow efficiency consistently deliver stronger post-occupancy feedback, higher engagement and lower turnover. Staff report not only improved operational efficiency, but also a more positive and restorative day-to-day working environment. Highlighting that considered clinic design is both a performance and wellbeing lever.
Technology-Ready, Not Technology-Led
Digital health adoption in Australia accelerated rapidly post‑COVID, with AIHW reporting sustained use of telehealth and digital workflows across outpatient and specialist services.
High-performing facilities avoid designing around specific technologies that may quickly date. Instead, they focus on adaptable infrastructure that supports future equipment, AI-assisted diagnostics and hybrid models of care.
This approach is particularly relevant in radiology, IVF and specialist practices, where technology cycles are shortening and capital investment risk is high. At Interite, we focus on future-proofing facilities with technology upgrades in mind, so our clients can maximise the longevity of their new spaces and investment.
Patient Experience as a Healthcare Performance Measure
Patient experience is now a formal component of healthcare performance reporting in Australia, with AIHW and state health departments tracking indicators related to communication, comfort and overall care experience (AIHW, Patient Experience Measures).
Evidence consistently links well-designed healthcare environments with reduced patient anxiety, improved engagement and stronger perceptions of care quality; outcomes that directly influence reputation and referral patterns in competitive private healthcare markets. In high-emotion care environments, Interite prioritises arrival experience, intuitive wayfinding and calming spatial design to support patient trust and comfort from first contact.
A recent example is Interite’s project for Coastal Orthopaedics in WA, where a patient-centric approach resulted in a space which feels intentionally non-clinical; reinforcing the relationship between experience and perceived quality of care.
“The design vision for us when we spoke to Interite was to create a space that doesn’t necessarily feel like you’re going to a specialist medical appointment. It feels more like you’re in your own lounge room. So it’s relaxing and inviting, modern, clean and contemporary… Overwhelmingly the feedback we receive on our rooms is that it is a beautiful space to be in.”
– Tamara Hoysted, General Manager at Coastal Orthopaedics
Compliance, Risk and Future Proofing Healthcare Facilities
Regulatory expectations around infection control, accessibility, radiation safety and fire engineering continue to evolve across Australia — often differing by state.
Facilities that lack flexibility often require costly retrofits to maintain compliance, disrupting operations and increasing risk exposure. Designing adaptable spaces upfront is increasingly recognised as a more cost‑effective and resilient approach.
A key approach involves early engagement with specialist consultants, subcontractors and clinical stakeholders during feasibility and concept design to establish technical requirements upfront. This process enhances scope definition, minimises design and construction variations and enables informed planning for the clinic’s future operational and strategic evolution. Engaging a nation-wide healthcare design and construction partner will further alleviate the risks associated with potential compliance and safety concerns.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
High‑performing healthcare facilities in 2026 will balance efficiency with care – supporting patients, clinicians and operators equally.
They are:
- Flexible and technology‑ready
- Aligned with contemporary healthcare models
- Designed for long‑term operational performance
Delivering:
- Improved operational efficiency
- Stronger staff retention
- Higher patient satisfaction and referrals
- Reduced compliance and redevelopment risk
These spaces are the result of strategic planning, evidence‑based design and deep sector expertise.
As national leaders in Healthcare Design and Construction, Interite partners with organisations deliver environments that are built for the evolving needs of today. Reach out to our team, to discuss your next healthcare project: 1800 973 236 | [email protected]
References:
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) – Australia’s Health
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health - AIHW – MyHospitals and Hospital Performance Reporting
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals - AIHW – Health Workforce
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/workforce/health-workforce - AIHW – Digital Health and Telehealth
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-welfare-services/digital-health - AIHW – Patient Experience Measures
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-care-quality-performance/patient-experience - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) – Healthcare Safety and Quality Frameworks
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au - OECD – Health at a Glance: OECD Indicators
https://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance/