An inspiring Walk on Country
As part of the arts consultation for the $830 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (the Precinct), the project team joined clinical representatives from Liverpool Hospital to Walk on Country at Sandy Point Community Centre.
The event provided an opportunity to experience the Aboriginal culture of the region.
"Thank you to the District’s Aboriginal Services Deputy Director Karen Beetson and the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council for sharing their culture and history with us in this important event."
Karinn Marrone - Redevelopment Director, Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct Project
Leaders from the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council guided the team through various places along Georges River, sharing the local Aboriginal history and culture. The walk included a bushwalk on Country, a yarning circle, a smoking ceremony, and sharing food.
The team gained an understanding of the stories and heritage of the land from the local Aboriginal community as part of the consultation for the Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct arts program.
Traditional ceremony prepares site
Prior to the turning of the first sod, main works builder Lendlease hosted a traditional smoking ceremony on the construction site, joined by a member of the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council.
A small group of guests representing the local health district, hospital and project team participated in the smoking ceremony. It was performed by Rhett Burraston, a proud Mandandanji/Ngemba man born on Dharawal land.
Rhett also shared his knowledge of the 3 different types of eucalyptus leaves used in the ceremony. The ceremony was performed to cleanse the land and create positive energy on site before construction of the new buildings commences.
Celebrating our community through arts and culture
We developed our health and arts strategy with our First Nations and multicultural communities.
To date, NSW Health's largest artwork installation 'Flowers of Gandangara' is featured on the new Liverpool Hospital car park.
The artwork, by internationally renowned Indigenous artist Bibi Barba, was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders, local community and project architects.
It has become an eye-catching feature of the Liverpool city skyline.
Learn more about the artwork and the Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct arts program.
Community engagement
South Western Sydney is one of Australia's most culturally and linguistically diverse regions.
There are more than 1 million people in the region, of which:
- 35 per cent were born in a non-English speaking country
- 55 per cent speak a language other than English at home.
(2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census)
We worked closely with the local communities and stakeholders to inform them about the Precinct’s key features, progress and milestones. This included the launch and opening of new wards and services.
Our community engagement activities aimed to inform, engage and most of all inspire our multicultural communities with the transformation of Liverpool Hospital into a world-class health, research and education centre.
To make sure we shared how we would deliver the new building and services, we worked in close partnership with:
- patients and their carers
- clinical and non-clinical staff
- community representatives
- local councils
- non-government organisations
- teaching and education partners.
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Contact us
Phone:(02) 8738 6670
Email:SWSLHD-LHAP@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Corner Elizabeth and Goulburn Streets, Liverpool NSW 2170
Post: Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871