Westmead kids’ hospital reflects on NAIDOC Week

This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy” honours the achievements of the past while celebrating the leadership of today’s young people, the strength of community, and the enduring legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Over the years of this redevelopment, we have worked towards a more inclusive, welcoming and responsive hospital in design, appearance and feel for Aboriginal patients, families, staff and visitors. In 2020, a dedicated Aboriginal engagement strategy was developed to ensure Aboriginal culture is embedded throughout the redevelopment design in meaningful ways.

This includes the design and planning of new Aboriginal gathering spaces for families and staff – a first for the hospital – and integrating Aboriginal art and language into new areas of the campus.

Senior Project Director Caleb Teh said the involvement of Aboriginal stakeholders has been important to the project’s success.

“We’ve worked closely with Aboriginal community members to ensure the new hospital reflects culture and Country,” he said.

“Their voices have helped shaped various aspects of the project, from the design of the car park to the artwork in the main hospital building.”

To provide cultural guidance on integrating Aboriginal culture, language and art throughout the hospital, a dedicated Aboriginal Advisory Group was formed in 2023. This group of Aboriginal artists, including Leanne Tobin, Leanne Redpath and Jaimie Eastwood, have also contributed their works to areas of the hospital.     

Leanne Tobin created the dragonfly motifs featured on the façade of the new car park, while Leanne Redpath created collections of symbols within the lift waiting areas of the car park, including river reeds, gathering circles, and the sun – all connected to Country and the local Parramatta River.

All three artists contributed design elements to a new Acknowledgement, welcome in Dharug Language now prominently displayed in the galleria to the existing hospital.

Throughout the new hospital building, a number of areas in have been given Dharug names in consultation with Aboriginal Health staff, the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and a Dharug language expert from Western Sydney University. At the hospital’s main entry, a major artwork is being developed to recognise Country.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Redevelopment Director, Tim Hoffmann recognised the significance of engaging with Aboriginal communities to create a more welcoming hospital environment for all Aboriginal peoples.

”It’s not lost on our redevelopment project team how much weight cultural knowledge sharing can carry in co-designing new facilities,” he said.

“We know by listening to and working with our community we can achieve better outcomes. I’d like to thank everyone who’s shared their voice to the project to identify new ways to honour Aboriginal culture and support patients, families and visitors to connect with Country in our hospital.”

Roberts Co, the project’s main works contractor, has also played a key role in supporting Aboriginal engagement throughout construction.

As part of their Aboriginal Participation in Construction targets, they have exceeded their initial targets by more than 250 percent. This includes partnerships with Aboriginal-owned businesses, creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander people and cultural learning programs for staff.

Construction for the new building is expected to be completed later this year, with opening in 2026.

For more information on Aboriginal engagement on the project, please visit the project page.