McKellar Mental Health & Wellbeing Centre

The McKellar Mental Health & Wellbeing Centre is a state-of-the-art acute mental health facility. This was the first of the four projects under the Mental Health Beds Expansion program, operated across four sites including Northern Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital. The centre aims to provide residents in Greater Geelong with better access to mental health support by increasing capacity and delivering high-quality care in a safe and contemporary setting. The design approach for the facility, along with the three other hospitals, was to create a residential feel in the critical care wards and avoid a sterile environment.

Working together with BG Architecture and AECOM teams, LPA provided a lighting solution focusing on light fixtures that met the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance. Given the critical care nature of the wards, it was imperative that all fittings were anti-ligature, tamper-proof and IK-rated, guaranteeing the safety of both patients and staff. The light fixtures went through an intensive selection process by multiple parties for approval. Our expertise in mental health lighting standards and experience in the field helped us assist with the lighting calculations and conformity of lighting levels according to AS1680.

The Symmetry circular light by Visa Lighting was chosen for the main wards. The Symmetry not only met the anti-ligature requirements but also provided a visually appealing design that contributed to the desired residential feel the client was after for the critical care wards. The Gig wall-mounted luminaire by Visa Lighting was selected as an overbed light in the wards. It combined anti-ligature and IK10 impact-resistant features with a tasteful design, ensuring patient safety while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere. The Sole oval mirror light by Visa Lighting was selected specifically for the ensuites in the wards. This IK10 impact-resistant fitting offered high vandal resistance through its tamper-proof hardware. It had dual switching between the white and amber light. The inclusion of a backlight illumination feature allowed patients to utilise the light during the night, enhancing their sense of comfort and security.

The Half-Round by Kirlin Lighting was installed as patient night lights. These fittings offered a range of colour filters. Alongside the Sole oval mirror, the amber light created a soothing ambience for patients whilst adhering to the stringent safety requirements of the facility. The Choice downlight by Kirlin is an anti-ligature and vandal-proof fitting that was used in the ensuite areas for durability to withstand any potential tampering. The Matric F5 tuneable white luminaires by Lightnet were used in the corridors. These linear lights were fitted with an opal diffuser ensuring continuous and adequate lighting levels, contributing to a safe and well-illuminated environment for patients and staff members.

Our lighting solution for the McKellar Mental Health Centre played a vital role in creating a safe, comfortable and aesthetically appealing environment for patients and staff. Our selection of anti-ligature, tamper-proof and IK-rated lighting products aligned with the project’s objective whilst complying with the strict regulations and standards set for mental health facilities. By ensuring the delivery of high-quality lighting solutions, we contributed to the success of the Pathways program, an essential service to the residents of Greater Geelong.