The Cairns South Health Facility (CSHF), the only facility of its kind in Australia, was developed as a category 5 cyclone rated, dual-purpose facility, to operate in 2 modes of health care, deemed Ordinary Mode and Extra- Ordinary Mode. For the facility to deliver valuable health services year round, a key objective was for all functional areas to be able to be utilised through-out the year.

Within Ordinary mode the facility provides community health services, with the potential to run a multitude of different outpatient services. In the lead up to the extreme weather events, the facility converts into its Extra-Ordinary Mode, providing critical emergency care services, including, ED and ICU patient bays, an operating theatre and dedicated birthing spaces.