Australian-made momentum builds in healthcare as Novamed range rolls out

Sunshine Coast, QLD. The move toward Australian-made equipment in hospitals, aged care, and education is accelerating as providers weigh service reliability, supply chain risk, and the need for locally appropriate design. Family-owned Novacorr Healthcare is expanding its Novamed range and argues that sovereign manufacturing is now fundamental to resilience and patient care.

Local manufacturing returns to the fore

Procurement teams are revisiting the total cost of ownership rather than only the purchase price. With equipment lifecycles measured in years, quick access to parts, engineers in the same time zone, and the ability to tailor products to local policies are moving higher on decision lists. Novamed beds and furniture are built on the Sunshine Coast with an emphasis on serviceability, infection control, and everyday practicality.

What it means for consumers and clinicians

For patients, families, and frontline staff, downtime is not theoretical. When an electric bed or a key chair is out of service, workflows stall and comfort suffers. Local manufacture can shorten repair windows because spares are stocked domestically and technicians are available without long delays. It also lets equipment reflect Australian use patterns. Examples include door widths and room layouts, preferred castor sizes, rail configurations, and wipe-clean finishes that match Australian infection control practices.

Clinicians value configurability. A ward may need different bed rails for early or late stage needs. A dementia unit may prioritise rounded edges and weighted items. A maternity suite may seek furniture that supports skin-to-skin care and feeding. These differences are easier to implement when engineering and upholstery happen nearby.

What it means for the economy and skills base

Behind every bed frame and every upholstered chair sits a chain of local suppliers. Steel fabrication, powder coating, foam conversion, timber and laminate production, healthcare grade fabrics and castors all benefit. Keeping this ecosystem active supports skilled jobs, apprenticeships and specialist capability that are difficult to rebuild once lost. It also shortens feedback loops. Engineers can meet on site, observe how equipment is used and iterate quickly.

Universities and TAFEs also benefit. Local manufacturers help align teaching spaces with the realities of Australian facilities. Beds for manual handling and simulation labs can be delivered in stages, adjusted as curricula evolve and maintained with parts that are close at hand.

What it means for national resilience

Freight bottlenecks in recent years exposed the risks of long and fragile supply chains. Healthcare infrastructure must remain maintainable even when shipping is constrained. Australian made capacity strengthens sovereign resilience. Facilities can replace, expand or retrofit essential equipment on credible timelines. Environmental gains are possible as well. Shorter transport routes reduce freight emissions and repairable designs extend service life and reduce waste.

Where Novamed fits

• Novamed is a portfolio that covers core bed platforms and furniture for wards, mental health, dementia care, family spaces and education.
• AC and AW electric beds provide profiling, height adjustment, head and knee elevation and optional Trendelenburg. Service friendly layouts and detachable boards support maintenance. Compatibility with bed movers suits Australian facilities.
• Mental Health and Dementia Safe furniture uses weighted or anchorable designs, radiused edges, tamper resistant fasteners and sealed surfaces. These features support behavioural health plans and durability while maintaining a calm look.
• The healthcare rocking chair supports dementia care with soothing rhythmic movement and supports maternity and postnatal wards for calming, feeding and skin to skin routines.
• Lounge and seating covers LoungeEase chairs, Tub chairs, Form ottomans and Calm bean bags. These products use commercial foams and wipe clean upholstery for high traffic zones such as waiting rooms, patient spaces and family areas.
• Day bed and trundle solutions provide space efficient sleep options for carers, staff rooms and student accommodation. Drawer storage and trundle variants support overnight stays.
• Bariatric seating uses reinforced frames, wider seat pans and pressure care foams for higher loads with comfort and stability.

Design notes with a focus on practicality

Novamed emphasises details that drive day to day performance. Clearances under beds suit hoists. Cable management tolerates frequent movement. Standardised components simplify maintenance. Upholstery choices prioritise cleanability, with moisture barriers, zipper shields and surfaces that tolerate hospital grade cleaning regimes.

Procurement lens beyond the sticker price

Cost pressures are real. Buyers are increasingly asked to quantify uptime and service risk. If a ward loses a bed for weeks while waiting for a part, the downstream costs can outweigh upfront savings. Locally built equipment changes the risk profile through shorter parts pipelines, easier communication with engineers and the ability to customise once rather than compromising repeatedly.

Education and community settings

Not every environment is a tertiary hospital. Community clinics, allied health practices and residential aged care need equipment that is robust, familiar to staff and easy to reconfigure. For educators, the ability to mirror Australian ward layouts and accessories helps students build confidence before they reach placement.

The road ahead

As health networks plan refurbishments and new builds, the discussion is shifting from whether local is possible to where local makes the biggest difference. Products that touch safety, infection control, manual handling and mental health environments are natural candidates. The broader outcome is capability. Maintaining skills, suppliers and know how inside Australia allows the system to adapt quickly when needs change.

Enquiries and specifications

For technical documents, finishes or project discussions across the Novamed range, contact our Sales Team through our MedicalSearch Storefront.