Meet Sarah Hose, Peninsula Health’s Director of Redevelopment and a driving force behind one of our most significant projects to date.
Sarah plays a pivotal role in the redevelopment of Frankston Hospital—a transformative project designed to enhance healthcare services for our community. This major upgrade includes a new 12-storey clinical services tower and main entrance, 130 additional beds, expanded spaces for mental health and oncology services, and a state-of-the-art theatre suite.
This International Women’s Day, we spoke with Sarah to learn more about her role and her experience working in the traditionally male-dominated construction industry.
Q: As Director of Redevelopment, what are you responsible for?
A: I am responsible for the delivery of the redevelopment project, ensuring the building is delivered in line with the functional brief and agreed design. Each day is very different. I can spend time inspecting the functionality of the design with Peninsula Health users, attending construction interface meetings to ensure the building works within existing spaces are not impacting hospital operations, or resolving ongoing design issues.
Q: What is your background, and what inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?
A: My background is in pharmacy, as the senior technician here at Peninsula Health for 18 years prior to joining the project team. It was a chance meeting, a follow-up conversation, and a secondment to the project team that began this journey. I took an opportunity and continue to learn every day about major project delivery, particularly under the PPP structure.
Q: What is the most exciting or rewarding part of your job?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is when I take the Peninsula Health users, who have been involved in the briefing and design process since 2020, into the new tower for the first time. Seeing their faces when they see the design come to life, recognising what they have contributed to, and experiencing the incredible spaces we have created makes the long days worthwhile!
Q: What is it like working in a male-dominated industry?
A: At times, attending site can be an intimidating experience, especially around break times when large numbers of workers are walking out of the building. But the contractors on site are always very polite, and the more walk-throughs we do, the more women we are observing on site. The stereotypes within the construction industry still exist, I have no doubt, but my experience has been quite positive. Everyone has their roles to play aside from their gender—the skills brought are the focus rather than gender.
Q: Are there any challenges or obstacles you face? If so, what are they, and how have they helped shape your leadership style?
A: There will always be challenges faced, no matter the role you are in—the type of challenge is what changes. I haven’t felt that I have faced any challenges based on my gender. The high stakes of the project itself are challenging, but there is a lot of support and knowledge within the wider project team. Listening to and understanding each person’s role, communication style, and how to best approach them in each situation makes getting to a resolution a much easier process. Giving people a voice is also important, so I always try to ensure my team and our users are acknowledged for the work they are doing.
Q: What strategies or approaches have you found effective in navigating and succeeding in your role?
A: Continually learning from those around me has helped me grow in the role. Asking questions and acknowledging when you need to ask for help along the way is so important. Ensuring you know the content and not attempting to bluff your way through is crucial, as no one expects you to know everything. Play to your strengths and always ask if unsure.
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are considering a career in your field?
A: I would say take the opportunity. Say yes to stepping outside your comfort zone because there are so many opportunities within the area of project management, and as women, we are often managing a household, so we already have the required skills.
Q: How do you envision the future for women in your industry, and what changes would you like to see?
A: I haven’t been in the industry for long, and from my experience with the Frankston Hospital Redevelopment, there is already a strong female presence within the wider project teams. The Exemplar Health CEO and Victorian Health Building Authority Acting Director are both female, with many other strong female leads throughout all areas of the project teams. The growth for women would be on the construction side of things, but that is already gaining traction, as observed onsite, with many of the trade teams having a female presence. Continuing to see skills matched to jobs without gender being a consideration is what I would like to see.
Q: What is the most exciting part of the redevelopment project? How will this improve the way Frankston Hospital delivers care on the Peninsula?
A: The opportunity for care to be delivered in purpose-built spaces, with consideration of safe, personal, effective, and connected care, is an exciting outcome of the project. Our teams will continue to provide a high level of care within a much-improved environment that benefits not only the patient but also the staff delivering the care. All elements are considered, from the interior design response to the wayfinding strategy, with input from all key stakeholders, including our consumer groups.
Q: Do you believe Peninsula Health is an employer that supports and promotes gender diversity?
A: Healthcare tends to have high female numbers, and PH is no different. What we will do well in the new building is provide for our gender-diverse workforce with the provision of gender-neutral toilets and change rooms, including considered supporting signage. I like to think that PH provides opportunities for all staff, regardless of gender, based on skills and experience. The opportunities are there—as women, we just need to back ourselves to take them!
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