Help make BHS feel better

BALLARAT Health Services is seeking ideas from the public to help make its environment a place not just associated with being sick.

BHS is asking the community what they think about bringing the arts into its places and spaces.

Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Aldrich said, “We are inviting users of Ballarat Health Services, friends and family, the artistic and creative communities as well as all staff, to share their thoughts with us through a short survey.”

“We are getting on board and want our community to give us ideas, particularly how they might want to enhance the environment to give them the sense of wellbeing when they are here.”

The National Arts and Health Framework was developed in 2013 to enhance the profile of arts and health in Australia and to promote greater integration of arts and health practice and approaches into health promotion, services, settings and facilities

While BHS has used the Framework only in pockets until now, the survey will help to assist its consolidation.

Ms Aldrich said, “This is a whole of hospital approach. To my knowledge this is the first time we have asked the community to help us with the survey about how people think we can do it better.”

Based on evidence locally and overseas, the benefits of art and art programs in health services environments have been positive, the same thought provoking, uplifting and reflective experiences the public finds in traditional performance and exhibition spaces.

BHS wants people to have the same experiences, as in a gallery or a concert hall or a theatre, via the art in a health setting.

“Having art on the walls, or choirs or musicians, is part of making an environment that people want to be in,” said Ms Aldrich.

“The Foyer is an ideal venue with great light and acoustics so we are hoping to turn it into a space which has gallery potential or rotating exhibition opportunity.”

BHS participated in Open House Melbourne’s first stand-alone regional program in 2017 when it opened the Ballarat Integrated Regional Cancer Centre to the public.

“Potentially we could envisage the public coming to the hospital’s buildings to view an exhibition – as a gallery space not necessarily while they are attending for medical reasons.”

BHS will consider any of the ideas that the public bring to its attention through the survey.

The initiative is being funded by Ballarat Connected Communities.

The survey, which takes five minutes to complete, can be found at bhsartsandhealth.co and closes on Monday, 14 January.