Project showcased at naidoc week event

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Campbelltown Hospital Aboriginal Liaison Officer Raylene Blackburn recently joined the redevelopment team to showcase the project at Campbelltown City Council’s NAIDOC Week celebrations. Early consultation at the same event in 2018 helped inform the design of our new hospital building, and the event was an opportunity to celebrate community input and share the outcomes of their involvement.

Celebrating the Cumberland Plains on which the hospital is built, the new building acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country with key design elements throughout, such as the Healing Circle, Sensory Stone, Welcome Stone and Uncle Ivan Lounge.

The cultural mural that featured on the exterior of the former Uncle Ivan Lounge has been incorporated into the new space on Level 2 of the new hospital building. Featuring handprints of Aboriginal Staff Members, including some who are no longer with us, our contractors helped preserve the artwork by moving a section of the wall to the new building. Unveiled in early June, Uncle Ivan and community members were touched to see the artwork featured in the new building.

A culturally safe place, the Uncle Ivan Lounge is a space where patients, families and friends of the Aboriginal community can come together to have a yarn, reflect, connect, or if they need to, grieve. We thank our Aboriginal Elders and community members who have helped shape the project to be one reflecting strong cultural ties.

From the recent smoking ceremony, to the working groups and site visits, community has been an important part in creating a healing space for all. Read more about how culture has been built into the new building here.