Watson Health Precinct Officially Opens

8 Sept

Written By Monarch

08 SEP 2026

Construction of the new Watson Health Precinct is complete, with an open day held on 8 September 2026 to mark the official opening.

Members of the community and project partners attended the open day to tour the completed buildings. Guests included Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health Infrastructure Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, Minister for Health Dr Marisa Paterson MLA and representatives from the Ted Noffs Foundation, Marymead CatholicCare, and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation.

The Watson Health Precinct comprises four purpose-built buildings at the base of Mount Majura. Each building serves a different function, providing residential settings for the delivery of specialist mental health and alcohol and other drug support.

The new facilities will support services operated by the Ted Noffs Foundation and Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn. The Ted Noffs Foundation will return to the Watson site to deliver youth alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services, while Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn will provide residential care for young Canberrans experiencing mental health challenges through its long-running STEPS program.

The project replaces ageing infrastructure with purpose-built spaces designed to provide welcoming, secure and inclusive environments for recovery and wellbeing.

The open day gave the community and project partners an opportunity to walk through the completed facilities before service delivery begins.

A Shared Precinct
The Watson Health Hub sits alongside the Winnunga Nimmityjah Residential Rehabilitation Facility, a 24-bed facility that will provide the ACT’s first dedicated residential alcohol and other drug rehabilitation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Together, the projects form the new Watson Health Precinct and represent a $49 million investment by the ACT Government in recovery and wellbeing services for young and First Nations Canberrans.

Monarch is proud to have delivered the Watson Health Precinct and to see the completed buildings ready to support service providers and the Canberra community.