Health service seeking First Nations artists

GRAMPIANS Health are encouraging all Wadawurrung, and broader First Nations, visual creatives to enter their region-wide Aboriginal art competition, which launched during NAIDOC Week.

Chief operating officer of community and aged care Craig Wilding said the competition is part of his organisation’s work to ensure hospitals, and broader health service facilities, are inclusive and safe.

“We’ve had so much wonderful feedback about the Protector of his mob artwork that features at Ballarat Base Hospital Drummond Street entrance, so we’re really excited to be extending this opportunity across the region to spread the message of welcome and safety across Grampians Health campuses,” he said.

“We’re committed to providing a safe and culturally sensitive health service for all members of our community, and this artwork competition is another way to show our commitment to our First Nations people across the region.”

Grampians Health’s Aboriginal hospital liaison officer team leader Emma Leehane said art is a way to bring more Indigenous culture to her organisation, and respect traditional owners, and the wider Indigenous community in Ballarat.

“Including local culture, and country in our spaces through artwork helps to break down barriers and creates a space that feels accessible and more welcoming for our community,” she said.

“First Nations people have knowledge of, and have been practicing, health and medical treatment for thousands of years, so it’s really important that these artworks pay tribute to that.

“We’re looking for artworks that reflect local country, Bunjil our creator God, land and water elements, bush medicine and our community.

“The winning artworks will be displayed at their local campus, as a way of welcoming First Nations people onto that site.”

The Aboriginal art competition is open until Friday, 12 August and a $2500 prize will be awarded to winning entries at four Grampians Health locations, including Ballarat.