Monday, 9 August 2021: ISLHD Media Release

The Illawarra Shoalhaven’s COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Centre in the Wollongong CBD has officially opened its doors today, offering vaccine doses to eager locals who have previously booked online.

The facility in the former David Jones building in the Crown Street mall will provide the Pfizer vaccine and subject to Federal supply, could offer up to 2,500 vaccinations per day.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Chief Executive, Margot Mains said vaccination will help people to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from hospitalisation and even death.

“It is vital our community gets vaccinated, so we are incredibly proud of everyone who helped to deliver this facility so quickly – from the building contractors to our frontline staff – it’s truly been a team effort,” Ms Mains said.

“In just over a month we have converted a vacant department store into a purpose-built clinic, including medical treatment bays, waiting areas, a pharmacy preparation area, storage, staff facilities and public amenities”, she said.

From today, people who were booked to be vaccinated at the Wollongong Hospital and Shellharbour City Centre vaccination clinics will now be vaccinated at the new mass vaccination centre. As the clinic increases capacity, additional appointments will also become available at the new centre via the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.

“We understand that there is a large demand for appointments across our region. We’re delighted that so many members of our community appreciate the importance of vaccination and we ask for continued patience as we ramp up the clinic to full capacity as more vaccine becomes available,” Ms Mains said.

The centre will have capacity to administer approximately 2,500 vaccinations per day, subject to vaccine supply, which will more than triple the District’s current daily vaccinations. As always, it is imperative people make an appointment and attend their allocated time.

The vaccination centre is employs around 200 staff each day, which includes nurses, pharmacists, medical, administrative support and concierge staff.

NSW Health has progressively expanded its capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines to support the Federal Government’s vaccine rollout and now has more than 100 venues across NSW offering vaccinations, in addition to the GP network and pharmacies where people can also be vaccinated.

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the NSW Health website.

Construction facts

• About 100 people have been involved in transformation process including architects, planners, electricians, plumbers, painters, carpenters and COVID safety marshals.

• Construction, fit-out and commissioning undertaken in 38 days.

• 400 litres of paint used

• 6,000 square metres of new flooring laid

• 40,000 metres of data cable installed

• 15,000 metres of power cable installed

Artwork and photography

Internal images

Images featured inside of the building were submitted by ISLHD staff as part of a photography competition.

Exterior images

Images on the building’s exterior of prominent Illawarra locations were provided by Wollongong City Council.

Aboriginal artwork

The Aboriginal artwork featured throughout the facility is by Nowra artist Holly Sanders.

Holly is a Contemporary Aboriginal Artist and teacher. She is a proud Bundjalung woman from the North Coast of New South Wales, currently living and working on Yuin Country, on the South Coast. Through her art, she aims to share her stories, culture and Country in a contemporary way.

About the artwork featured in the Mass Vaccination Centre, Holly says:

“This work is a celebration and acknowledgement of Country. First Nation’s people have thrived and lived sustainably with this land for thousands of years. We are spiritually and culturally connected to County. It is inherent to our identity and is interconnected with our culture, family and kinship, lore and traditions and languages. 

“The colours and detailed patterns flowing down the canvas represent the ocean and Saltwater Country. The ocean and waterways are bound spiritually, culturally and historically to saltwater Aboriginal people. This connection and relationship continues to remain strong today.

“Healing and protecting Country and culture is fundamental. Our ancestors walked this sacred country for millennia and continue to live on in the land, waters and the sky today. “First Nations people have been calling to recognise, protect and maintain all aspects of our Country, culture and heritage for all Australians.

“The meeting place symbols throughout represent First Nations voices and all Australians learning and listening about ways First Nations peoples have been caring and protecting Country for thousands of years. Country also heals us and honouring the reciprocal relationship with the land is central to our culture and is a concept important for all people living in Australia today”.

Thursday, 5 August 2021: Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District media release

Construction of the Illawarra Shoalhaven mass COVID-19 vaccination centre is in its final stages, with the Wollongong CBD facility set to open its doors next Monday, 9 August.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) Chief Executive, Margot Mains praised the team of staff and contractors responsible for turning the former David Jones building in the mall into the region’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination centre.

“The work the team has delivered on the new centre is outstanding, especially in such a short amount of time and with the additional requirements around COVID safety,” Ms Mains said.

“The Centre’s opening on Monday is an important step forward in the response to COVID-19. It will allow the District to continue its rollout of COVID-19 vaccine, with the capacity to administer up to 2,500 vaccinations a day, subject to vaccine supply.”

The Wollongong and Shellharbour City Centre COVID-19 vaccination clinics will transition across to the Mass Vaccination Centre from Monday.

People already booked to be vaccinated at the Wollongong Hospital and Shellharbour vaccination clinics will this week receive updated information about their appointment at the new Centre.

The District will be establishing an AstraZeneca vaccination centre at Shellharbour next week and further details will be provided shortly.

The Local Health District encourages people to book a vaccine appointment via the Australian Government eligibility checker which shows available appointments at NSW Health vaccination centres as well as GPs and pharmacies.

If there are no available bookings at a location near you soon, please continue to visit the eligibility checker as more vaccination appointments become available.

Under the Public Health Order, construction of the centre was permitted to continue over the past few weeks, as it is urgently required by NSW Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the NSW Health website.

30 July 2021: Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District media release

Construction of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Mass Vaccination Centre in Wollongong is continuing as it is permitted to proceed under the new public health order as a construction site for NSW Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The site’s COVID safe plan has been strengthened to ensure construction and supply work can continue in a safe and appropriate manner. This includes restricting non-essential personnel and visitors from entering the site.

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Mass Vaccination Centre, which will administer the Pfizer vaccine, will open mid-August in the former David Jones building in the Crown Street shopping mall. The centre will have the initial capacity to administer up to 15,000 vaccines per week, approximately 2,500 per day (six days a week), with the capacity to increase further in the future. Please note this is subject to vaccine supply.

The Wollongong and Shellharbour vaccination clinics will transition across to the Mass Vaccination Centre. Once the new centre is open, anyone with an existing appointment at the Wollongong and Shellharbour clinics will receive their vaccine at the new centre. Individuals will receive updated information about their appointment when the new booking system is operational at the end of July. The Shoalhaven vaccination clinic remains unchanged at this stage.

The Local Health District encourages people to continue to check if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if eligible, book an appointment via the Australian Government eligibility checker. If there are no available bookings at a location near you soon, please continue to visit the eligibility checker as more vaccination appointments become available.

The District appreciates people’s patience and urges everyone to get vaccinated as soon as it possible to do so. Please be assured that everyone who wants to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated.

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District recently celebrated the milestone of 50,000 COVID vaccinations administered in our clinics.