Feb
16
2018
Work has progressed on the development of the Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ Aboriginal Cultural and Wellbeing Centre which is expected to be built later this year.
The Mid North Coast Local Health District has been working with DRA Architects to finalise the design of the centre. The National Aboriginal Design Agency (which is part of the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance) has been engaged to create cultural designs reflecting local storylines about health and healing, which will be showcased inside and outside the building.
To assist in the design of these artworks, a group of Aboriginal students from five local high schools recently toured the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, including the Emergency Department, Maternity Unit, Community Health and the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute.
After completing the tour, the students participated in a workshop facilitated by local Aboriginal Gumbaynggirr artists to come up with designs which reflected Aboriginal patient wellbeing and healing, culture and heritage.
About 50 designs were produced by the students and the National Aboriginal Design Agency provided an independent assessment panel to review the artworks and storylines and their relevance to the CHHC. From these, six designs were chosen for the CHHC Aboriginal Cultural Wellbeing Centre.
The centre will provide culturally tailored support, information and referral for Aboriginal patients, families and visitors.
The objective is to help Aboriginal people at the hospital feel culturally safe and secure in a space that offers privacy, confidentiality and access to Aboriginal staff.
It will also help Aboriginal people to feel a sense of connection to the health service.
The aim is to create a space that will encourage a growing number of Aboriginal people to complete treatment plans and referrals and to access hospital programs and resources.
This article was originally published in The Pulse (Mid North Coast Local Health District), February 2018.
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