Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital – Waterloo Carts

The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, located on the Sunshine Hospital campus in Melbourne’s west, opened in May 2019 as a flagship development designed to meet the region’s rapidly growing demand for maternity, paediatric, neonatal, and women’s health services. The multi-storey facility introduced a bright, welcoming architectural presence alongside a host of advanced clinical capabilities—including Victoria’s first NICU for Melbourne’s western suburbs, expanded maternity wards, specialist paediatric services, and state-of-the-art operating theatres and clinics.

Supporting fast, safe, and reliable clinical response across such a diverse care environment required equipment that was equally specialised. Emery Industries, in partnership with Waterloo Healthcare, supplied a suite of custom-configured Waterloo emergency and clinical carts to enhance emergency readiness, streamline workflows, and support the hospital’s high-acuity care pathways.

A Purpose-Built Solution for a Modern Women’s & Children’s Hospital

The hospital needed equipment that would perform seamlessly in environments ranging from NICU and maternity wards to paediatric theatres and emergency bays. Mobility, durability, infection control, and clear visual identification were essential—all of which made Waterloo carts an ideal choice.

Emery Industries worked closely with clinical stakeholders to ensure the carts were configured for ergonomic access, colour-coded for rapid recognition, and equipped with the right accessories to support the unique demands of women’s and children’s healthcare settings.

Key Waterloo Carts Supplied

✓ UXGLA-Peds — Paediatric Emergency Cart

Designed to support paediatric emergencies with intuitive drawer layouts, paediatric-specific airway and medication accessibility, and colour-coded identification.

✓ UXRLA-333369-RED — Adult Crash Cart (Red)

Deployed in high-acuity zones and used for rapid response in adult emergencies. The red colour coding ensures instant recognition during critical situations, supporting fast team coordination.

✓ UTGKA-33669-PNK — Paediatric Anaesthetic Cart (Pink)

Tailored for paediatric anaesthesia workflows with organised, clinician-informed drawer layouts that allow quick access to equipment required for airway management and sedation.

Why Waterloo Carts Were Chosen

1. Infection-Control-Ready Construction

Built using premium stainless steel and advanced polymers, the carts support rigorous cleaning and sterilisation processes—ideal for NICU, maternity, theatres, and paediatric units.

2. Colour-Coded for Rapid Response

Colour-differentiated finishes (red, pink, and clinical neutrals) enable instant identification of the right cart during code events—saving valuable seconds when it matters most.

3. Ergonomic, Clinician-Informed Layouts

Drawer configurations were designed based on clinical workflow, ensuring:

• intuitive access

• clear organisation

• improved response times

• reduced cognitive load for staff

4. Durability & Manoeuvrability

Smooth-rolling castors, secure braking systems, and reinforced frames allow the carts to move easily across wards without compromising stability.

5. Modular Flexibility

Each cart can be customised with:

• drawer dividers

• accessory rails

• work surfaces

• sharps holders

• oxygen cylinder mounts

• defibrillator shelves
  ensuring it fits perfectly within each department’s operational model.

Impact: Supporting Safe, Efficient, Family-Centred Care

By integrating these Waterloo carts throughout maternity, NICU, paediatrics, and operating theatres, the hospital achieved:

• Enhanced emergency readiness across all acuity levels

• Improved workflow efficiency, with equipment always organised and within reach

• Standardised response equipment, reducing variation between departments

• A visually coherent, family-friendly environment aligned with the hospital’s design philosophy

In high-acuity paediatric and neonatal settings especially, the ability to identify, access, and manoeuvre the right equipment instantly can have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

A Partnership Approach to Modern Healthcare Infrastructure

This project highlights Emery Industries’ commitment to delivering user-informed, durable, and workflow-optimised equipment solutions that support the evolving needs of modern healthcare. By working in partnership with Waterloo Healthcare, Emery ensured the hospital received highly reliable carts configured to the exact requirements of their clinical teams.

The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital continues to be a benchmark facility for maternity and paediatric care in Victoria—and these Waterloo carts play a key role in supporting its emergency, anaesthetic, and patient care pathways.